BOXSCORE
SYRACUSE, NY – Becky Helwig netted the game-winner as the
University of Connecticut field hockey team captured its record sixth BIG EAST
Championship on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Villanova at host Syracuse
University’s Coyne Field. The win improves the Huskies to 15-7 on the season and
earns them the BIG EAST Conference’s automatic berth in to the NCAA
Championships. Villanova slips to 11-9 with the loss.
Villanova scored first 4:05 into the game when Sarah Burdette
capitalized on a penalty stroke awarded after UConn goalkeeper Maureen Butler
trapped a ball inside the circle. The Huskies tallied three unanswered goals
though to take the conference title.
Lauren Henderson, who scored the game-winner in overtime
against Syracuse in Friday’s BIG EAST semifinals, added to a resume that would
earn her Tournament MVP honors by netting the equalizer at the 10:32 mark. Kelly
Cochrane and Lauren Christie assisted on the goal.
Helwig’s goal at 44:14 held up as the game winner, the strike
coming off of a cross by Laura Thibodeau. Henderson added her second of the game
for insurance, again with assists going to Cochrane and Christie.
UConn enjoyed a decisive 21-6 shot advantage in the contest
and earned 15 penalty corners to Villanova’s six. Butler made four saves in the
Husky net to earn the win.
The teams and first round sites for the NCAA Championships will be announced
on Tuesday.
