By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
The West Essex Regional High field hockey team — ranked No. 2 in the state, according to nj.com — took a long bus ride to South Jersey for a non-league matchup with Cherokee last Saturday.
The undisputed top Group 2 program in the state gave the Chiefs all they could handle, powered by state Player of the Year candidate Adelaide Minnella’s four goals en route to a 6-1 West Essex triumph.
The senior Villanova commit has 131 goals and 103 assists in her career, including 25 goals and nine assists so far this season.
“She’s incredibly gifted on the field. Her stick skills and her play don’t even rival the headspace she plays in and what she does for her teammates on the field,” said Knights coach — and her mother — Jill Cosse. “Even if I were not her mom, I would still think she’s one of the most exceptional players I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. I’ve had already four games this season where officials have stopped me after the game and asked, ‘Who’s that #17?’ They’ll stop and say, ‘She commands the field like no one I’ve ever seen.’
“At the end of the day, when hockey ends, you just want to raise a great person. And I’m proud of who she is.”
Check out correspondent Brian Tortella’s Q&A with Minnella below:
Tortella: What does it feel like being the only senior on the Knights’ roster?
Minnella: It’s both rewarding and hard all at the same time! I really am surrounded by girls who make being the only senior so much easier. The juniors and sophomores have taken up a lot of responsibilities that would typically be shared among seniors, so they can lighten the load for me and I am so grateful for them. I love being the only senior, though, because I get to have these little sisters around me who I love and care about and get to watch grow into these great players every day.
Tortella: What does it mean to you to be able to play for your mom?
Minnella: Playing for my mom has always been a super special part of playing field hockey for me. I get to have a lot of different sides of her and our relationship goes so much further beyond mom/daughter, coach/player. I appreciate her words and advice more than anyone else.
Tortella: How old were you when you started playing field hockey? Did she give you stick from the moment you could walk?
Minnella: Basically! I think I learned how to do a pull right before I learned how to walk.
Tortella: What is your favorite memory from playing the sport?
Minnella: I think my favorite memory of playing the sport is all of the different friends I have made. There are so many girls who I consider my best friends from all over the place — Camden Catholic, Point Boro, etc., who I love playing against in school and club but within any regional stuff. It’s really cool to be a part of the field hockey community because everyone knows everyone and you get to form these amazing friendships. I would say my favorite memory so far would be breaking 100 goals as a junior because that was a huge goal of mine since I was in middle school!
Tortella: You’re projected to surpass the West Essex field hockey program career goals record. What does that mean to you considering the program’s storied history?
Minnella: To be able to be in the position to break that kind of record is so important and amazing to me. I’m surrounded by a team of supporters and that’s what makes it so special to me. I also think that sometimes when I ever doubt myself, I can look at those really cool stats to make myself believe in my abilities again.
Tortella: What did it feel like when you broke the program’s career assists record?
Minnella: It was very rewarding. As a forward, sometimes it is hard to feed the ball because you’re the last line before the goal, offensively. But I’m really lucky that I’m on a team where feeding the ball is just as important as taking the shot yourself.
Tortella: What is the biggest difference between you as a freshman and now as a senior?
Minnella: This is a hard question because I feel like there are so many differences, but also very similar things. The biggest difference between my freshmen self and me now would probably be my confidence on the ball. As a freshman, I knew I had good stick work, but I always fed the ball more than I took it myself, or tried to be more of a background helper, rather than now I want to be involved in everything.
Tortella: You’ll be playing at the next level for Villanova alongside your older sister (Evangeline, a sophomore and former All-State and All-American player at West Essex). What went into that decision and what appeals to you most about Villanova?
Minnella: I wanted to choose the place that felt the most like home to me and somewhere where I felt like no matter what the circumstances were, I would love it — and Villanova is that place! The team culture and balance between both athletics, academics and community is something that I really love.
Tortella: Other than your mom, who has been your biggest inspiration?
Minnella: I think a bunch of the West Essex girls who have come before me. Lizzy Cimilluca, Michelle Vizzuso, Ellie Decker, Soph Sisco — who is one of my best friends — my sister, Evie, and my coaches! Liz Romano was also one of my biggest role models when I was a kid, and she is the one who taught me how to do one of my favorite stickwork moves.
Tortella: What do you like most about West Essex Regional?
Minnella: I love how there is always a sense of community at West Essex. Every sport supports each other, and the school allows for so many options of extracurriculars while also being a really good academic school. I also love how my friend group and I have been so close for so many years, and my best friends and I have been able to have the opportunity to go to school together for so long!
Tortella: How do you balance school work, athletics and social life?
Minnella: I think finding time for yourself in the midst of the chaos is the key to finding balance on other things. Every Sunday, I tell myself I need to give myself at least two hours of just ‘me’ time. I get to relax and do things that I want to do. Having a good support system is always great, too. My family and friends make it really easy for me to get from one place to the next without feeling like I’m missing out on something.
Tortella: What is your expectation for the rest of the season?
Minnella: I expect us to do really well in all of our conference and group runs! We’re a gritty team — maybe not the oldest or the wisest — but we are hard workers and it shows in every game we’re in. There’s no one who works harder than we do, and that’s something that I know will show in the rest of the season.
Tortella: What team has been the most challenging you’ve ever faced?
Minnella: I would say Notre Dame, Episcopal, or Villa Maria. All three teams are fantastic and foundationally strong, from their goalies to their forwards. I love playing (talented) teams because it shows what you need to work on and what works for us.
Tortella: Now to some fun questions. Who’s your best friend on the team?
Minnella: This one is so hard. I would say I’m relatively closest with the juniors — Jillian, Julia, Alex, Kate, Katie and Lizzie. Jillian, Julia, Alex and I always go to Taco Bell at night whenever we’re bored and I cherish those moments a lot. They’re like my little sisters and best friends all in one.
Tortella: Favorite pregame hype song and artist?
Minnella: Absolutely 100 percent, “Take Over Control” by AFROJACK featuring Eva Simons, or “Drowning” by A Boogie (Alex and I always blast this together!)
Tortella: Favorite pregame snack?
Minnella: Rice Krispies treats. Definitely. There’s always a box of them near our mini fridge in the locker room and it’s right next to my locker. It’s so bad because suddenly there’s five empty wrappers in my locker after I have one.
Tortella: What’s something you do when you have some down time away from sports?
Minnella: I love to read. Reading is like a little escape I use to get out of my own head and just submerge into a different world. Other than that, hanging out with my friends! I’m super lucky with how great the group of girls I am friends with is.
Tortella: If someone gave you a plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Minnella: Italy with my family! If it was an individual plane ticket — probably Bora Bora, or Switzerland during Christmas time.
Tortella: Who is the greatest field hockey player you’ve ever seen?
Minnella: I absolutely love watching (former Eastern Regional star) Ryleigh Heck play. I think her stickwork is so fun to watch and she has a super high game IQ.
Tortella: What would your advice be to younger players just trying out field hockey?
Minnella: To anyone trying out the sport — soak it all up and be a sponge. Field hockey is the best sport in the world. It has given me so many opportunities and has led me to make so many friendships. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or mess up. Making a mistake is the way to learn how to do better — what really matters is what you do after that mistake and how you respond.
Tortella: If you could pick any three people, dead or alive, to have dinner with, who would they be?
Minnella: Taylor Swift, (English actor) Theo James and Jennifer Lawrence.
Tortella: Who are your top five greatest athletes of all time?
Minnella: Kobe Bryant, (Olympic hurdler) Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Saquon Barkley (fun fact he lived in my hometown while he played for the Giants!), (women’s lacrosse star) Charlotte North and (Olympic swimmer) Katie Ledecky.
Tortella: Best concert you’ve ever been to?
Minnella: Taylor Swift or Noah Kahan. Hands down. Those are my two favorite artists and both of them left me desperate to go back.
Tortella: If you could go back to your first day of high school and give your freshman self some advice, what would it be?
Minnella: I would say to take in every moment, even the bad ones. Every moment shapes who you are so let every day be a reminder to how great and strong you can be. And tell everyone you love them.
