Jess Galatioto enters her second season leading the Field Hockey program during the 2024-25 academic year. Galatioto was announced as the 10th head coach in the program's 23-year history prior to the 2023-24 academic year.
In 2023-24, Galatioto guided the Purple & Gold to a pair of victories on the season with both wins coming at home against Wells College and Roberts Wesleyan University. The victory against Roberts Wesleyan University on Senior Day would see Jenna Ellis '24 record three assists and MeganRae Burke '24 make 12 saves to notch her second career shutout. First-year forward Caitlin Ehlenfield '27 recorded a pair of goals in the contest to pace EC.
Galatioto helped to mentor goalkeeper MeganRae Burke '24 throughout the season as Burke recorded 210 saves (fourth-most in a single-season) and became the first EC goalkeeper since 2018 to record at least 200 saves in a season. Burke finished her four seasons with the Purple & Gold ranking in the top-10 of wins, shutouts, goals-against average, save percentage, saves, and minutes played.
Following the 2023-24 campaign, the Soaring Eagles would have seven players named to the NFHCA National Academic squad, while Jazmine Elliott '26 and Neha Wajahat '25 were both honored with the NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction Award. The NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction Award honors undergraduate student-athletes who have exhibited exceptional academic excellence, achieving a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher throughout the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year.
Galatioto comes to Elmira after spending the past four years (three seasons) as the head coach at Wells College in Aurora, New York. During her time with the Express, Galatioto had five players earn National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFCHA) Scholars of Distinction honors, while more than 15 student-athletes earned NFCHA D3 National Academic Squad honors from the association to go along with countless Northeast Athletic Conference (NEAC) Scholar-Athlete honors.
Additionally, Wells was ranked the 4th highest academic team from the NFCHA during the 2019 season.
On the field, Samya Anderson-Victor paced the Express during the 2021 season after finishing with 199 saves between the pipes, which ranked 5th best in NCAA Division III. Under Galatioto, Wells competed in the NEAC Championship game during the 2019 season.
Prior to her time in Aurora, Galatioto was an assistant coach at St. John Fisher University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. She helped the Cardinals to a 30-9 overall record, while in 2018, Fisher players earned five all-conference, two all-region, and one All-American award.
Galatioto earned a master's degree in teaching from Bethany College, where she served as graduate assistant coach for the 2015 season specializing in goalkeeper training. She contributed to the team's recruiting and player development goals, film study, and team operations. She was also the assistant intramural coordinator for Bethany College during the 2016-17 school year.
A native of Queensbury, New York, Galatioto earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and health education from Castleton State University where she had a distinguished playing career. As a four-year member of the field hockey team Galatioto was a three-year starter in goal for the Spartans, starting all 59 games over the final three seasons while posting a record of 33-25 which helped the Spartans to back-to-back North Atlantic Conference Championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
The 2013-14 season was Galatioto's best season statistically as she ranked third in the NAC in shutouts (five) while tallying a 2.35 goals against average. The numbers were even better against conference opponents, as she notched a record of 9-0, allowing just five goals while boasting a goals-against average of .58. She also led the NAC in save percentage against conference opponents, posting a mark of .919. Galatioto was named to the NFCHA National Academic Squad in all four of her seasons from 2011-2014.
Galatioto has coached for USA Field Hockey Futures in the Rochester, New York region, for the Empire United Field Hockey Club, and within the Fairport Central School District. She has worked summer camps at the high school and university levels.
