Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Villanova on August 29, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2
FH
Final
James Madison
3
vs Villanova
2
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
2008 Field Hockey Roster
Roster
Stefaniak, Melissa
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Jersey Number 34
Melissa Stefaniak
- Year:
- Senior
- Position:
- Midfielder/Forward
- Height:
- 5-6
- Hometown:
- Plymouth, Pa.
- High School:
- Wyoming Valley West
Bio
As a senior: CAA Preseason All-Conference... NFHCA Senior All-Star... CAA Second Team All-Conference... CAA All-Tournament Team... VaSID First Team All-State... JMU Dean's List Spring 2009... JMU Athletic Director Scholar-Athlete... 50th nationally in points per game... tied for fourth in the CAA in points... sixth in the conference in points per game, seventh in goals per game, and tied for sixth in goals... tied for sixth in the CAA with teammate Ashley Walls in assists and assists per game... eighth all-time in JMU history in points, 10th in goals, tied for 12th in assists, and tied for sixth in game-winning goals... started all 21 games this season... finished with 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, and three game-winning goals... recorded two assists in the 6-1 victory over Saint Louis in the opener... assisted the Dukes’ only goal in the 1-0 defeat of Virginia... scored once over Richmond in a 3-2 victory and recorded the game-winner in the 1-0 defeat of American earning her CAA Player of the Week honors on September 22 ... had a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win against Delaware... assisted on two of the Dukes’ goals in a 6-1 defeat of Towson... recorded two goals in the 7-3 win versus Hofstra... recorded a hat-trick by scoring three goals in the 4-0 victory against Virginia Commonwealth... scored the game-winning goal in a 3-0 win at Old Dominion followed by a goal and an assist the following day at William and Mary earning her Womensfieldhockey.com National Honor Roll honors...had a goal and an assist in the first round of the CAA tournament 4-1 victory over William and Mary... notched an assist in the 2-1 loss against Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
As a junior: Longstrength/NFHCA Division I Second Team All-Region (South)... VaSID First Team All-State... CAA First Team All-Conference... 14 goals and five assists this season led JMU... fifth in CAA in shots, second in points, tied first in goals, and tied fourth in game-winning goals... 48th nationally in points and goals per game...season playing debut with one goal and a game-winning goal in the Georgetown match... one of four JMU players to score off of penalty strokes in the overtime match against Penn State... two goals against Longwood... game-winning goal in 1-0 win over Drexel... game-winning goal in 2-1 victory against California... scored two goals in the 5-4 first round NCAA tournament victory over Duke
As a sophomore: Tied for third on the team with 16 points... shared team lead with six assists... scored in JMU’s season opener against Kent State... had assists in consecutive matches against North Caorlina and Ohio... first multiple-goal game came in 5-0 win over Radford... had two assists in 3-0 CAA win over VCU... added goals against Richmond and Longwood and assists against Drexel and Duke... goals against Kent State and Radford were game winners.
As a freshman: ECAC Player of the Week and CAA Co-Rookie of the Week Oct. 23 for her hat trick, all goals unassisted, in the 3-2 win over Delaware... CAA Rookie of the Week Oct. 30 for her two goals in the 3-2 overtime match against #13 Northeastern... first career stat was an assist in the 2-0 shutout against Radford... made JMU's only goal in the Hofstra game... third on team in goals with seven and tied for third on team in points with 16... two assists this season... started in four of the 16 games played
High school: All-state as a sophomore, junior and senior. Four time All-Wyoming Valley Conference. Team captain as a senior. Four-year starter and letterwinner. Wyoming Valley West won state and conference championships 2003. The Spartans were District II champions 2001, 2002, 2003 and runners-up 2004. Participated in the U.S. Field Hockey Assocation’s Futures and Futures Elite program five years and in Junior Olympics 2003. USFHA B camp 2004. Member of USA Elite Team that won gold medal in the first annual CAN-AM Games 2004. Member of two USFHA National Futures Tournament gold-medal teams and two National Hockey festival gold-medal teams. Member of teams that won two gold medals (2003, 2004), a silver medal (2002) and a bronze medal (2001) at the Keystone State Games. Three-time all-conference in basketball. Received team’s outstanding basketball player award 2003 and defensive MVP award 2002. Won eight district track medals.
Personal: Melissa Stefaniak. Management major. Her older sister, Lauren, played field hockey at JMU from 2004 to 2007.
Getting to know Melissa...
Why did you choose JMU?
I chose JMU to be with my sister and to get the chance to play hockey with for three more years.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
I am a B\business major with a concentration in marketing. I chose this because I want to be a successful business woman and have the opportunity to travel around the world.
What do you enjoy most about JMU field hockey?
We all are great friends.
What are your goals for this year?
To beat UVA and to win CAA’s.
What is your favorite pre-game music or ritual?
I listen to a crazy playlist on my IPOD and always call my mom right before I get off the bus.
Who is the silliest/goofiest person on the team?
I would have to say everyone is extremely funny, but Megan Bain always has something blonde to say that makes everyone laugh.
Who motivates you and why?
My parents because they constantly encourage and support me.
What are your favorite things about JMU?
My friends and the campus.
What is your favorite place at JMU?
Starbucks.
What influenced you to play field hockey?
My sister.
Do you have a nickname within the team?
Mel.
Which is your favorite team to play against?
UVA because my cousin and best friend from high school play there so it’s always fun to play against them.
What can’t you live without?
My stuffed animal, cell phone, car, and IPOD. And of course my family.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I love Kasey Kahne.
What other hobbies and/or activities do you enjoy?
Basketball, shopping, going out with my friends, tanning, and going to the beach.
Who or what is your favorite:
Food? Pizza and wings from PA.
Movie? Love and Basketball. The Notebook. Stomp the Yard.
TV Show? Anything on the Food Network and lifetime.
Actor/Actress? Channing Tatum. Julia Roberts.
Music Group? Rascal Flatts. Pitbull.
Athlete? Kasey Kahne.
As a junior: Longstrength/NFHCA Division I Second Team All-Region (South)... VaSID First Team All-State... CAA First Team All-Conference... 14 goals and five assists this season led JMU... fifth in CAA in shots, second in points, tied first in goals, and tied fourth in game-winning goals... 48th nationally in points and goals per game...season playing debut with one goal and a game-winning goal in the Georgetown match... one of four JMU players to score off of penalty strokes in the overtime match against Penn State... two goals against Longwood... game-winning goal in 1-0 win over Drexel... game-winning goal in 2-1 victory against California... scored two goals in the 5-4 first round NCAA tournament victory over Duke
As a sophomore: Tied for third on the team with 16 points... shared team lead with six assists... scored in JMU’s season opener against Kent State... had assists in consecutive matches against North Caorlina and Ohio... first multiple-goal game came in 5-0 win over Radford... had two assists in 3-0 CAA win over VCU... added goals against Richmond and Longwood and assists against Drexel and Duke... goals against Kent State and Radford were game winners.
As a freshman: ECAC Player of the Week and CAA Co-Rookie of the Week Oct. 23 for her hat trick, all goals unassisted, in the 3-2 win over Delaware... CAA Rookie of the Week Oct. 30 for her two goals in the 3-2 overtime match against #13 Northeastern... first career stat was an assist in the 2-0 shutout against Radford... made JMU's only goal in the Hofstra game... third on team in goals with seven and tied for third on team in points with 16... two assists this season... started in four of the 16 games played
High school: All-state as a sophomore, junior and senior. Four time All-Wyoming Valley Conference. Team captain as a senior. Four-year starter and letterwinner. Wyoming Valley West won state and conference championships 2003. The Spartans were District II champions 2001, 2002, 2003 and runners-up 2004. Participated in the U.S. Field Hockey Assocation’s Futures and Futures Elite program five years and in Junior Olympics 2003. USFHA B camp 2004. Member of USA Elite Team that won gold medal in the first annual CAN-AM Games 2004. Member of two USFHA National Futures Tournament gold-medal teams and two National Hockey festival gold-medal teams. Member of teams that won two gold medals (2003, 2004), a silver medal (2002) and a bronze medal (2001) at the Keystone State Games. Three-time all-conference in basketball. Received team’s outstanding basketball player award 2003 and defensive MVP award 2002. Won eight district track medals.
Personal: Melissa Stefaniak. Management major. Her older sister, Lauren, played field hockey at JMU from 2004 to 2007.
Getting to know Melissa...
Why did you choose JMU?
I chose JMU to be with my sister and to get the chance to play hockey with for three more years.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
I am a B\business major with a concentration in marketing. I chose this because I want to be a successful business woman and have the opportunity to travel around the world.
What do you enjoy most about JMU field hockey?
We all are great friends.
What are your goals for this year?
To beat UVA and to win CAA’s.
What is your favorite pre-game music or ritual?
I listen to a crazy playlist on my IPOD and always call my mom right before I get off the bus.
Who is the silliest/goofiest person on the team?
I would have to say everyone is extremely funny, but Megan Bain always has something blonde to say that makes everyone laugh.
Who motivates you and why?
My parents because they constantly encourage and support me.
What are your favorite things about JMU?
My friends and the campus.
What is your favorite place at JMU?
Starbucks.
What influenced you to play field hockey?
My sister.
Do you have a nickname within the team?
Mel.
Which is your favorite team to play against?
UVA because my cousin and best friend from high school play there so it’s always fun to play against them.
What can’t you live without?
My stuffed animal, cell phone, car, and IPOD. And of course my family.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I love Kasey Kahne.
What other hobbies and/or activities do you enjoy?
Basketball, shopping, going out with my friends, tanning, and going to the beach.
Who or what is your favorite:
Food? Pizza and wings from PA.
Movie? Love and Basketball. The Notebook. Stomp the Yard.
TV Show? Anything on the Food Network and lifetime.
Actor/Actress? Channing Tatum. Julia Roberts.
Music Group? Rascal Flatts. Pitbull.
Athlete? Kasey Kahne.
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