This is the fourth entry of The Morris-Sussex Hockey Report’s 27 teams in 27 days, where each day (except for Thanksgiving) there will be a team preview of each area team (boys and girls) leading up to Opening Day on December 7.
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RANDOLPH RAMS (GIRLS)
Head coach: Michael Pizzano, first season
Division: NJIIHL-Cohen Division
Last year: Randolph had its best season since beginning varsity play in 2016-17, as it went 7-8-1 with a 6-4-1 mark in the Cohen Division. It qualified for the Cohen Cup, where it defeated Westfield in the first round before losing to Kent Place, 2-1, in the semifinals. It then fell, 3-0, to Kent Place in the first round of the state tournament.
Key losses: Randolph graduated its top two scorers from last season in forward Steph Martin (16 g., 10 a.) and defenseman Anna Stock (25 g., 9 a.).
Top returners: Senior defenseman Joelle Yurchuk was the team’s third-leading scorer in 2022-23, and figures to be right near the top again after tallying 11 goals and 10 assists for the Rams. She will lead the team’s blue line, while senior goalie Stephanie Xhumba will hold it down in goal after posting a .904 save percentage with two shutouts last year, earning first team All-Conference honors.
Offensively, after graduating Martin, Randolph will look to a group of forwards to take a big step this season. Juniors Ellen Dell’Aglio, Yolanda Sabillion, and sophomore Ada Shadwell should have larger roles up front for the Rams.
Potential incoming impact players: Freshman goalie Maria Dlugolecki will be Xhumba’s backup this season. Freshman Lia Carroll should also see a role at forward.
Burning question: Can Randolph continue its recent momentum with a new coach after key graduation losses?
Ryan Hallock led this program to back-to-back seven win seasons, and now hands the keys to new head coach Michael Pizzano, who will look to keep the program trending upward. Graduating dynamic players like Martin and Stock will make for a bit of a challenge, but the rest of the team has gotten a taste of the postseason for two-straight years- with the program’s first-ever playoff win last season- and will be motivated to keep the positive momentum going.
Outlook: Randolph is clearly a program on the up-and-up, and the experience this group has gained in the last couple of years should prove extremely valuable as players jump into larger roles this year. It knows it can count on one of the best netminders in its conference in Xhumba, as well as a dynamic offensive defenseman in Yurchuk. If it can keep the puck out of its own net and if its forwards continue to develop, Randolph is certainly a squad that can be in the mix for success in the postseason once again.
Check back Monday for a preview of the Pope John boys team.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
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