Info@NJGRITFieldHockey.com (Grace - Resilience - Integrity - Teamwork)
Leadership Team
Jill Cosse
Anthony Minnella
Anthony Minnella
Head Coach at West Essex High School where she and her teams have won over 500 games in her 25 year career. In 2021, she brought her team to its 38th consecutive Sectional Title, 4th consecutive State Title, and 20th overall State Title. The team has been ranked #2 in NJ by NJ.com, and competed in the 2021 Semi Finals of the Tournament o
Head Coach at West Essex High School where she and her teams have won over 500 games in her 25 year career. In 2021, she brought her team to its 38th consecutive Sectional Title, 4th consecutive State Title, and 20th overall State Title. The team has been ranked #2 in NJ by NJ.com, and competed in the 2021 Semi Finals of the Tournament of Champions (TOC). Jill stepped down from lacrosse in 2018, where her win record was 301-113-3, making her overall record at West Essex 783 -154 -14. She has had 90 WEFH athletes go on to play in college, with 31 earning the title of captain on their college team. In 1995, at just 23 years old, Jill was named the Inaugural Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach, and 1st Assistant Field Hockey for Kean University, where she was also an adjunct teacher from 1995-1997. Jill played Field Hockey and Lacrosse at The College of NJ, where she was a 2 time All American in Lacrosse, a 1 time All American in Field Hockey, and captained both her teams. She won 5 National Championships and played in 8 National Championship games in her career. Jill has been inducted into the Wall High School Hall of Fame, USLacrosse NJ Hall of Fame, The College of NJ Hall of Fame and the the NJSIAA Hall of Fame. In 2021 Jill was selected the National Coach of the Year by USAFH, along with the 2021 NJ Coach of the year by Max Field Hockey. For 2022 Jill also received the NJSIAA Trailblazer Award.
Anthony Minnella
Anthony Minnella
Anthony Minnella
Athletic Director at West Essex High School. He has coached wrestling, and football and is involved in several state and national leadership organizations. Anthony started his coaching career at Passaic Valley High School where he earned state and county titles in both wrestling and football. Anthony was inducted into the NJ Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010.
Melissa Agostini
Anthony Minnella
Melissa Agostini
Melissa was Jill’s 1st WEFH Captain and a Senior in the Fall of 1997. She was an All - American in the fall of 1998, a 2 time 1st team All- State selection, an Essex Country Player of the Year, a Scholar Athlete of the Year, and a leading scorer for the State of NJ in her senior year. Melissa won 2 State Championship Titles in her career.
Melissa was Jill’s 1st WEFH Captain and a Senior in the Fall of 1997. She was an All - American in the fall of 1998, a 2 time 1st team All- State selection, an Essex Country Player of the Year, a Scholar Athlete of the Year, and a leading scorer for the State of NJ in her senior year. Melissa won 2 State Championship Titles in her career. “Yuppa” (her maiden name) created set- ups for goals and scored goals herself, that no one could stop. She made the left side of her body a weapon shooting well before we moved there fundamentally in the USAFH developmental system years later in skill development. Melissa was a USA U16 team member. Melissa went on to play at Duke University from 1999-2001, and was named ACC Honor Roll, NCAA participant, with one year of eligibility left, she transferred to University of Richmond in 2003 and was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the week. She helped lead U. Richmond to its 1st NCAA appearance, and 1st Atlantic 10 Conference Championship. In 2019, Melissa worked with Nicole to found the West Essex Youth recreation Field Hockey Program. As an indoor club coach with NHFH last winter, Melissa and Nicole took their U12 team to the NIT’s and won a GOLD medal!
Nicole Breslin
Lizzy Cimilluca
Melissa Agostini
Nicole played hockey at West Essex, where she was on the first WEFH team to claim 3 State Championships in a row, and was named the #1 Team in NJ. She was recruited and went on to play field hockey at Yale University where she played both softball and field hockey, and was in the ECAC Finals. She coached at WEFH from 2000-2014, where she
Nicole played hockey at West Essex, where she was on the first WEFH team to claim 3 State Championships in a row, and was named the #1 Team in NJ. She was recruited and went on to play field hockey at Yale University where she played both softball and field hockey, and was in the ECAC Finals. She coached at WEFH from 2000-2014, where she ran the 7 / 8th grade program and then returned to the sideline to coach the Varsity kids throught their State run. She is currently an Early Childhood Teacher at Hackensack Public School where she has been since 2000. In 2019, Nicole and Melissa founded the West Essex Youth Recreation Field Hockey Program, and has been a force at the youth level teaching the game and building our sport. As an indoor club coach with NHFH last winter, Nicole and Melissa took their U12 team to the NIT’s and won a GOLD medal!
Lizzy Cimilluca
Lizzy Cimilluca
Lizzy Cimilluca
Lizzy Cimilluca is a WEFH Class of 2017 graduate who won the State Sectional State Title 3 times, the Group 2 State title 2 times, and finished her senior year by winning the Tournament of Champions State Title, beating Eastern 2-1 in over time. Lizzy was a 3 year starter, and an exceptional leader earning her the title of captain as just
Lizzy Cimilluca is a WEFH Class of 2017 graduate who won the State Sectional State Title 3 times, the Group 2 State title 2 times, and finished her senior year by winning the Tournament of Champions State Title, beating Eastern 2-1 in over time. Lizzy was a 3 year starter, and an exceptional leader earning her the title of captain as just a sophomore. She went on to captain her teams for 2 more years, and is the only 3 year captain in the programs history. Lizzy was a prolific midfielder, who could play both ends of the field equally well. She was known for her relentless fight for the ball, and was most lethal in the tightest of situations. She was a 2016 Regional All American, All -State Player, and was recruited and played at Iowa, before transferring to Montclair State University to finish her playing career. We are proud to have Lizzy on staff with us at NJ GRIT, because she is an exceptional role model, athlete and person.
Noel Gomez
Lizzy Cimilluca
Lizzy Cimilluca
Noell is teacher in the Montclair school district, and an Assistant Coach & GK specialist at West Essex High School where she has been on staff for the last 7 years. Noell was a prolific GK for West Essex High School, where she played for Jill and was a 3 year starter in the cage, winning 4 State Titles in her tenure. Her senior year she
Noell is teacher in the Montclair school district, and an Assistant Coach & GK specialist at West Essex High School where she has been on staff for the last 7 years. Noell was a prolific GK for West Essex High School, where she played for Jill and was a 3 year starter in the cage, winning 4 State Titles in her tenure. Her senior year she earned the title of Captain, 1st team All -Essex, 1st team All -Group 2, and 1st team All-State. Noell grew up playing ice hockey and is wicked on skates. In her family - she has a brother who played ice hockey in College and a sister who skated professionally for Disney. She teaches ice skating in her spare time over at Codey Arena, and took that love of the ice to her gk game. She was a gk that was unpredictable and great on and off her feet. She creates fun and exciting drills to teach gk’s vision and movement.
Rebecca Lilienthal
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Rebecca is the Head Coach at Parsippany High School, where she has been the Head Coach since 1998. She has won back to back undefeated NJAC Conference Titles, and has been Morris County Tournament runner up. She was named the Morris County All Area Coach of the Year for 2012, when she had back to back stellar seasons producing several of
Rebecca is the Head Coach at Parsippany High School, where she has been the Head Coach since 1998. She has won back to back undefeated NJAC Conference Titles, and has been Morris County Tournament runner up. She was named the Morris County All Area Coach of the Year for 2012, when she had back to back stellar seasons producing several of the top recruited players in the State of NJ. Rebecca played at the College of New Jersey where she was a 2 time Division 3 National Champion. Rebecca also runs the Pompton Lakes / Riverdale Recreation Department field hockey program, where she lives. Rebecca still plays hockey both indoor and outdoor with the Adult League of North Jersey, where she has played since 1998, in 2015, she was chosen to play in the “Golden Oldies International field hockey Tournament” in Leipzig, Germany. Rebecca is a warm, honest and caring coach that drives her players to be fundamentally sound. She has amazed Morris County continually by bringing young inexperienced players to a totally new level within their time playing for Rebecca.
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Sven is a graduate of Montclair State University, and is the current Athletic Trainer at Butler High School. Sven is also a
Volunteer Field Hockey Coach at PLRYO Youth Organization, and at NJ GRIT.
Sven has been with and around field hockey for 20 years in a various capacities. He enjoys watching his daughters play as well as growing the game at both the recreation and club levels.
Stephanie Pezzuti
Sven Lilienthal, ATC
Stephanie Pezzuti
Stephanie is a field hockey legend at West Essex. Stephanie played for Jill, where she was a 4 year varsity letter winner, 2 time Team Captain, 2 time All- State Group 2 State Champion, 4 time State Sectional Champion, and a 3 time County Champion. Stephanie was named to many post season teams in her career, but the pinnacle was earnin
Stephanie is a field hockey legend at West Essex. Stephanie played for Jill, where she was a 4 year varsity letter winner, 2 time Team Captain, 2 time All- State Group 2 State Champion, 4 time State Sectional Champion, and a 3 time County Champion. Stephanie was named to many post season teams in her career, but the pinnacle was earning 2013 1st Team All - State, and then in December of 2013 named an All - American in her senior year. Stephanie also earned the prestigious title of Player of the Year for Essex County. She took her formidable playing talents to Duke University, which is a powerhouse at the Division 1 level, where she played from 2014 - 2017. She played in 64 contests throughout her career. She was in 4 straight NCAA quarterfinal appearances, reaching the Final Four in 2015. She was a 4 year member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, and a 2 X selection to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. She capped off her career at Duke earning the “Duke True Award” her senior year, which is given to a senior in recognition of her all around leadership, work ethic and dedication to the program.
Katrina Poskay
Katrina Poskay
Stephanie Pezzuti
Katrina has been the Head Coach at Arthur L. Johnson for the past 20 years. She has won 3 State Sectional Championships, as well as numerous County and Conference titles. She was named Coach of the Year for Union County 3 times in her tenure. She is a dynamic coach that has the ability to change games easily with her tactical and strategi
Katrina has been the Head Coach at Arthur L. Johnson for the past 20 years. She has won 3 State Sectional Championships, as well as numerous County and Conference titles. She was named Coach of the Year for Union County 3 times in her tenure. She is a dynamic coach that has the ability to change games easily with her tactical and strategic knowledge of the game. Katrina has developed a host of brilliant players while at ALJ, notably 4 different players have gone on to win National Championships at the Divison 3 and Division 2 level in College. Katrina attended Montclair University where she was an English Education Major and played field hockey for the Red Hawks. It’s important to note for the character of our club and what we stand for, that Katrina was voted Teacher of the year in 2017 for the entire school district of Arthur L. Johnson. She was given that honor additionally by the Honor Society 3 more times in her career, as well as teacher of the Month and Most influential Teacher.
Support Staff
Assistant Coaches: Various WEFH and local alumni including but not limited to;
- Devyn Aschenbach - Villanova
- Jamie Chebuske - Northeastern
- Ellie Decker - Columbia
- Ashley and Sarah Iannuzzi - Delaware
- Cammy Kinsella - Brown
- Lia Sinisi - Michigan State
Support Staff:
- Executive Assistant - Dana Kinsella
- Webmaster - Cindy Zanelli (webmaster@njgritfieldhockey.com)
Learn More
Want to learn more about our club? Want to join us for a practice or come to try outs? If so, please contact us!