Women’s Soccer Ella Petrosh Captures NJAC Rookie of the Year I Published November 26

By: Caroline Pease  

For the fourth time in Kean Athletics history, a women’s soccer player has garnered the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of the Year award. Freshman Ella Petrosh is the first athlete in 13 years to receive the award.  

The Egg Harbor City native earned the Rookie of the Year title and second All-Conference selection after making key plays throughout her initial campaign, such as tallying two goals in the late-season match against Rutgers-Camden University, which helped secure a spot in playoffs. 

The newcomer registered 999 minutes of playing time over 19 games, starting 12 of them. She totaled 15 points with six goals and three assists in the season.  

Going into the preseason,  Petrosh said she was nervous but intended to get on the field as much as possible.  

“[I wanted] just to play as much as I could,”  said  Petrosh. “I didn’t know if someone was in my spot, but my biggest thing was getting on the field.”  

Head Coach Brian Doherty saw Petrosh’s immediate presence on the field and knew early she had the potential to be Rookie of the Year.  

“[Ella] has the rare combination of speed and technical ability,” Doherty said “.…She can score goals, she can finish and put it in the back of the net. Those three things together in one player are really hard to find. I thought she would be a difference-maker from the moment I saw her.”  

The forward earned one-time Rookie of the Week honors early during the regular season. In the second week of competition, she collected five points across two competitions against Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham University and Sarah Lawerence College.  

 Petrosh was in disbelief when she found out she had claimed the rookie title, describing the immense talent within her own class and across the entire conference.  

“I had tears in my eyes. I never thought in a million years that I was going to get it,” she said. “There is so much talent in our freshmen class that I never thought I would get Rookie of the Year.” 

 Petrosh credited her success both to the support from her parents and also  to the seniors on the team who she said fostered a culture that made the team feel like a family.  

“I couldn’t pinpoint just one person… But, the seniors really helped all the freshmen settle in and become family,” said Petrosh.  

Doherty also described the strong leadership from the senior class. 

 “She had a great supporting cast around her this year… a very experienced senior class, a lot of great leadership,” said Doherty.  

The seniors’ presence and effect on the program led the team to a strong showing in the regular season and a berth into the conference playoffs.  

 Petrosh and other playmakers were able to improve upon last year’s campaign, finishing the regular season 7-9-3, besting their previous record of 4-10-3.  

This was the Cougar’s first trip to the playoffs since 2021. Ranked seventh coming into the season and the conference’s dark horse, the team was determined to make it to the postseason.  

“[The seniors’] leadership was the single most important thing that got us back to the playoffs, they wanted it really bad and it trickled down to the rest of the team,” said Doherty.  

Overall, the team culture was the deciding factor for the success of the season. The players’ determination and coachability worked in tandem with the coaching staff.  

“This group was a really good group of people… and I think that’s why we were as successful as we were,” Doherty said. “Because everyone accepted their roles, even if they had questions, they accepted the answers. They always put the team first.”  

 Petrosh will continue her athletic campaign into the spring season as a member of Kean’s lacrosse team. 

---