Last week, history was made in New Jersey as Adie Minella broke the all-time points, goals, and assists records at West Essex High School. Thanks to this outstanding achievement and Minella’s outstanding play throughout the season, we are excited to announce that she is our Player of the Week!
Adie is from West Essex, NJ, where she was “born into” the field hockey world. Her mom, Jill Cosse, is the coach at West Essex and a Hall of Fame field hockey and lacrosse player at TCNJ. Adie’s older sister, Evie Minella, also helped spark Adie’s love of field hockey; she was a West Essex standout and currently a sophomore midfielder at Villanova. She credits their guidance for her initial interest in field hockey.
Ever since she began playing field hockey, Adie has always focused on working hard. She believes that “if you give 110% of your effort every day, you’ll reap the benefits!” From a young age, Adie always knew that she wanted to leave a lasting impact not only on the record books at West Essex High School but on the legacy of the field hockey program as a whole. To accomplish this, Adie always pushes herself and others to surpass their limits and be the best versions of themselves. This hardworking mindset, in combination with her fearless attitude, makes Adie not only one of the best players in New Jersey but one of the best leaders as well.
As a captain, Adie had a unique challenge to lead a team that is mostly made up of underclassmen. Her team’s goal for this season was to have confidence in themselves, no matter their age. Adie explained, “Since we’re a younger team, it’s easy to fall into a younger mindset, but our goal was to act and play like we are all seniors.” To the West Essex Knights, playing like seniors means having the courage to try new things and keeping composure in high-pressure situations. The Knights’ composure shined through recently on November 1, when they defeated in-state rival Camden Catholic 3-2. Adie scored the game-winning stroke in overtime to put West Essex on top.
Looking ahead, the Knights are hoping to claim another Group 2 State Title. Their tournament run started off strong with 8-0 and 7-0 wins over Old Tappan and Montville. Their next game is Monday, November 10, and a win would put them in the sectional title game once again. Beyond high school, Adie is also preparing to join the Villanova field hockey team in the fall of 2026. She will once again play alongside her sister, and we predict that their dynamic duo will be formidable for the Wildcats.
