Campus Overview

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) is a small, private Catholic liberal arts college located in the suburban West Hartford area of Connecticut, with an intimate student body of around 1,500 students. The college offers a close-knit, personalized educational experience focused on academic excellence and community engagement.


Location & Setting Situated in the suburban landscape of West Hartford, USJ benefits from a peaceful campus environment just minutes from downtown Hartford. The suburban setting provides a safe, accessible location with easy access to urban amenities while maintaining a calm, residential atmosphere.

Campus Life As a small college, USJ offers a tight-knit campus community where students typically know each other and have significant opportunities for personal interaction. Campus housing is available, with a mix of traditional residence halls and apartment-style living. The smaller size means more intimate social experiences and closer relationships with faculty and peers.

Student Body The student population is predominantly from Connecticut and surrounding New England states, with a moderate representation of international students. The college attracts academically motivated students interested in healthcare, education, and professional development, with a slightly higher proportion of female students.

Academics USJ is particularly recognized for strong programs in nursing, education, and health sciences. The college emphasizes small class sizes, personalized academic advising, and experiential learning. The academic environment is characterized by close faculty-student interactions and a supportive, achievement-oriented culture.

Athletics & Sports Competing in NCAA Division III, USJ offers several varsity sports including basketball, soccer, and volleyball. While athletics are part of campus life, the focus is on student-athlete development, teamwork, and balanced participation rather than high-profile competitive programs.

Lifestyle & Weather Connecticut experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters and mild summers. A car is recommended for convenient local transportation, though campus is walkable. Nearby Hartford and West Hartford provide additional recreational and cultural opportunities, with access to hiking, skiing, and coastal activities within reasonable driving distance.

Field Hockey (2025)

Level
D3 Unranked
Conference
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
Coach
Karen Nell
Recruiting Events:
Disney Showcase 2026

School

Type
Private (Roman Catholic)
Classification
Master's: Larger Programs
Common Majors:
Health Professions (45%)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (90%)
• Public Health (10%)
Psychology (11%)
Business (9%)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (70%)
• Accounting and Related Services (30%)
Public Administration (9%)
Biology (7%)

Student Body

Total
1,885
Undergrad
44%
Demographics
71% women
Student:Faculty
9:1

Programs of Interest

Environmental Science
Psychology (10.8%)
Biology (6.9%)
Sports Med / Kinesiology (47.6%)
French

Academics

Admission Rate
80%
SAT Median
1,105
SAT Range
960-1,250
Retention
86%
Graduation
70%

Costs

In-State
$45,908
Out-of-State
$45,908
Room & Board
$13,590
Avg Net Price
$27,375
Net price = average after financial aid

Weather

Winter
Moderate
HighLow
January37°20°
April60°40°
July85°66°
October64°44°
Oct/Apr = field hockey season

Location

Setting
City (City: Small)
Nearest City
New York, NY
Distance
99 miles

Coaching Staff

Name Position Contact Bio
Karen Nell Head Coach View Bio
Grace Majka Assistant Coach View Bio
Cayleen Defaranos Assistant Coach View Bio
Cayla D'Elia Assistant Coach View Bio
McKenna Gibson Assistant Coach View Bio
Kaeley DeNegre View Bio

Roster Breakdown

21 players

Geographic Recruiting

In-State: 57% (12 players)
US Out-of-State: 43% (9 players)
Connecticut: 57% (12 players)
Massachusetts: 14% (3 players)

Position Breakdown

Forward: 12 (57.1%)
Midfielder: 6 (28.6%)

Class Year Distribution

Freshman: 3 (14.3%)
Sophomore: 5 (23.8%)
Junior: 7 (33.3%)
Senior: 6 (28.6%)

Full Roster (21 players)

# Name Position Year Height Hometown High School
00 Abby Demers Goalkeeper So. 5-5 Westbrook, Conn. Westbrook High School
2 Ariana Komonaj Midfield Sr. 5-2 Thomaston, Conn. Thomaston High School
3 Grace Kociszewski Forward So. 5-2 Thomaston, Conn. Thomaston High School
4 Ella Schroeder Mid/Def Fr. 5-5 Canton, Conn. The Ethel Walker School
5 Devan Fox Mid/Def Sr. 5-4 Granville, Mass. Southwick Regional School
8 Ruth Peters Defense Fr. 5-1 West Hartford, Conn. Northwest Catholic High School
9 Katrina Drouin Defense Jr. 5-4 Enfield, Conn. Enfield High School
10 Juliana Meglio Forward Fr. 5-2 Watertown, Conn. Watertown High School
12 Eryn Ross Mid/Def So. 5-6 Westminster, Vt. Bellows Falls Union High School
13 Isabella Pelletier Forward Sr. 5-2 Weare, N.H John Stark Regional High School
15 Aurelia Barker Forward Sr. 5-3 Thomaston, Conn. Wingate University
16 Alyssa Milligan Forward Jr. 5-0 Cumberland, R.I. Cumberland High School
17 Gabriella Borruso Forward Jr. 5-2 Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. Comsewogue High School
18 Jacqueline Thibodeau Defense Jr. 5-6 Granby, Conn. Granby Memorial High School
20 Ella Michaud Defense So. 5-5 Newington, Conn. Newington High School
22 Kaitlin Trudeau Midfield So. 5-7 Bernardston, Mass. Franklin County Technical School
24 Alexa Maser For/Mid Jr. 5-3 New Hartford, Conn. UMass Amherst
26 Marisa Coviello Defense Jr. 5-2 Southwick, Mass. University of New Hampshire
27 Kaedence Brower Forward Sr. 5-2 Hartford, Vt. Colby-Sawyer College
42 Eryn Harvey Goalkeeper Sr. 5-9 North Kingstown, R.I. North Kingstown High School
55 Jaci Felix-Hull Goalkeeper Jr. 5-8 East Lyme, Conn. East Lyme High School