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UConn Picked to Win BIG EAST; Butler, Henderson, Helwig Earn Preseason
Honors
STORRS, CT (July 29, 2003) -- The 2003 University of Connecticut field hockey
team was chosen to finish tied for first place in the BIG EAST this season by
the six league coaches with Boston College. UConn tied with Boston College after
each received three first place votes. UConn also earned a triad of preseason
individual accolades as senior goalie Maureen Butler (Red Hook, NY) was named
the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and was also named to the
All-BIG EAST First Team. Butler is joined on the preseason All-BIG EAST Team by
teammates junior Lauren Henderson (Avondale Harare, Zimbabwe) and sophomore
Becky Helwig (Basking Ridge, NJ).
UConn won 12 of its last 14 games to finish the regular season with a record of
15-8, and were defeated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 1-0, by No. 6
Northeastern, after winning the BIG EAST Tournament.
Butler was solid in net for the Huskies in 2002, starting all 29 games
notching a goals against average of 1.30 and a save percentage of .737. Butler
registered the lowest GAA (.40) in BIG EAST games, and went undefeated in
conference play.
Henderson, a 2002 STX/NFHCA Division I Third Team All-American selection,
enjoyed a sensational freshman campaign in 2001, and led Connecticut’s potent
offensive attack with a BIG EAST leading 23 goals and 50 points. Henderson was
one of only three unanimous selections to the team.
Helwig tallied seven goals as a midfielder in 2002, including two game-winners
for 14 points while starting 19 games for the Huskies.
Boston College finished last season with a record of 15-6 and was ranked No. 18
nationally. The Eagles’ Kim French was chosen as the preseason BIG EAST
Offensive Player of the Year. Villanova, runner-up to UConn in the 2002 regular
season and BIG EAST Tournament, was picked to finish third this season.
2003 FIELD HOCKEY PRESEASON POLL
1. Connecticut (3) 23
1. Boston College (3) 23
3. Villanova 16
4. Syracuse 14
5. Providence 7
6. Rutgers 7
First-place votes in parentheses
Offensive Player of the Year
Kim French, Sr., Boston College
Defensive Player of the Year
Maureen Butler, Sr., Connecticut
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Virginia Drozd, Sr., M/B, Boston College
*Kim French, Sr., F, Boston College
Becky Helwig, So., M, Connecticut
Lauren Hill, Sr., GK, Boston College
Bronwen Kelly, So., M/B, Boston College
Kristen Madden, So., B, Boston College
Sara York, So., F/M, Boston College
Maureen Butler, Sr., GK, Connecticut
*Lauren Henderson, Jr., F, Connecticut
Stefanie Suehnholz, Sr., M/D, Providence
Christina Lugones, Sr., F, Villanova
Vanessa Pizzulli, Jr., B, Villanova
* - unanimous selection
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