SYRACUSE, NY (Nov. 7) - Head Coach Nancy Stevens of the University of Connecticut field hockey team took Coach of The Year honors at the BIG EAST Championship Banquet on Thursday. Lauren Christie (Raby, Australia) was named the league’s defensive player of the year.

Stevens guided Connecticut to a 5-0 league record and was named Coach of the Year for the fourth time. In UConn’s season-opener against Hofstra, Stevens became just the fourth coach in NCAA history to coach in 500 career games. The Huskies won their sixth BIG EAST regular season crown on their way to a 13-7 record overall.

Christie helped Connecticut post six shutouts in the regular season and allow only two goals in BIG EAST play. From her back position, she led the UConn defense that outscored its opponents by 1.2 goals per game. Offensively, she was second on the Huskies with nine assists and fifth in points with 11.

In addition to her Defensive Player of the Year award, Christie was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, as were teammates Kelly Cochrane (Scarsdale, NY) and Lauren Henderson (Avondale Harare, Zimbabwe). Making the Second Team for the Huskies were Mary Jo Malone (Water Mill, NY) and Kelly Stolle (Warren, CT).

Offensive Player of the Year: Kim French, Boston College, Jr., F
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Christie, Connecticut, So., M
Goalkeeper of the Year: Audrey Latsko, Syracuse
Coach of the Year: Nancy Stevens, Connecticut

All-BIG EAST First Team
Jennifer Chin, Providence, Sr., F
*Lauren Christie, Connecticut, So., B
*Kelly Cochrane, Connecticut, Sr., M
*Kim French, Boston College, Jr., F
*Lauren Henderson, Connecticut, So., F
Bronwen Kelly, Boston College, Fr., M
*Becky Kohler, Syracuse, Sr., B
Audrey Latsko, Syracuse, Sr., GK
Christina Lugones, Villanova, Jr., F
Kara Lukens, Providence, Sr., B
Michelle Marks, Syracuse, Sr., M

*denotes unanimous selection