Monmouth University Athletics

The Monmouth University field hockey team has become a consistent contender for the league championship, while the program continues to strive in the classroom due in part to Jill DiSanti, who begins her 11th year on the MU sidelines and third as the Associate Head Coach.

DiSanti's responsibilities include practice planning and execution, travel preparation, scouting and compliance. DiSanti works with the MU defensive unit but has been more involved with the offensive side of the field. Aside from in-game coaching and practices, DiSanti is responsible for evaluating potential student-athletes and monitoring academic progress. She also instructs at the Monmouth Field Hockey summer camps, and assists in running the Monmouth University Jamboree.

The Hawks captured their third consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship in 2016 and punched the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, capping off the best season in the program’s history.  DiSanti’s defensive corps finished atop of the MAAC in shutouts, goals against average and goals allowed.  The Hawks’ program-record 10 shutouts finished the year as a nation’s best. For the fourth-straight season, the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year resided in West Long Branch as Julie Laszlo claimed the honor, along with the league’s player of the year distinction.  Laszlo and Casey Hanna were named to the NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Team, while Laszlo became the program’s second All-American. 

In 2015, DiSanti’s defense finished second in goals allowed and defensive saves en route to the MAAC Regular Season Championship. For the third straight season, Monmouth was home to the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year as Hanna earned the distinction for the second consecutive year, while Christen Piersanti became the program’s first MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year. Hanna also became the third-straight MU defender to be placed on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mid-Atlantic Team, earning the accolade for the second time in as many years.

In the Hawks’ 2014 championship season, DiSanti’s defense group excelled, holding teams to under two goals a game. Led by the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and NFHCA All-Mid-Atlantic Second Team honoree, Hanna, and Second Team All-MAAC freshman Sydney Southard, the defensive unit posted three shutouts and finished the season ranked seventh in the nation with 11 defensive saves. 

Under DiSanti’s direction, Alex Carroll was name the 2013 MAAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Carroll, a First Team All-MAAC honoree, also was named to the NFHCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team. Joining Carroll on the All-MAAC squad was Ali Askinas, who started every game of her career from her backline position. The team finished the year ranked within the top-15 in the country with 12 defensive saves.

DiSanti’s defensive unit celebrated all-league players the previous two seasons as Carroll (2012) and Nicole Manziano (2011) were honored by the Northeast Conference. Manziano finished the 2011 campaign as the nation’s leader in defensive saves, posting 12 stops from the back line. The corps as a whole ranked top three in the NEC in goals against average (1.69), goals allowed (1.71) and team saves (19) per game.

In 2010, Disanti shaped a defense group that was second in the NEC in goals against average (1.38) and goals allowed (1.40). Defenders Melissa Murphy and Carroll both got into the offensive attack in 2010, scoring two and nine goals, respectively.

???????DiSanti arrived in West Long Branch after serving as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac for two seasons. She helped guide the Bobcats to consecutive NEC Field Hockey Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2006.

???????DiSanti was a standout player for QU, earning All-NEC honors three times during her career from 2002-04. She served as team captain and was named Quinnipiac's Most Valuable Player in 2004 before her graduation in 2005. She was a two-time all-region honoree (2003 and 2004) by the vNFHCA and is also the head coach and site director for Futures Region 6 goalkeepers.

???????A New Jersey native, DiSanti graduated from West Essex Regional High School.