Huskies Look to Get Continue Winning Ways in 2003

CONNECTICUT

Key Losses: Kelly Cochrane
                 Lauren Christie

Key Returnees: Lauren Henderson (Jr.)
                      Mary Jo Malone (Sr.)
                      Becky Helwig (So.)     
                      Maureen Butler (Sr.)

 The 2003 Huskies enter this season with a great deal of potential and expectation after the 2002 squad ran through the BIG EAST and advanced to the 16 team field NCAA Division I Field Hockey Tournament.  However, UConn will be without 2002 captain Kelly Cochrane who posted solid numbers last season.  Cochrane scored eight goals, but it was her unselfish play (21 assists) that made the biggest impact on the young 2002 squad.  BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Christie will not be returning in 2003 either.  Christie was a great team defender who also tallied two goals on only seven shots and also accumulated eleven assists in 2002.  The Huskies will miss her presence on the field this year. 

Looking to fill the void left by these two great players will be a talented group, including Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Lauren Henderson.  2002 was a break-out season for Henderson who tallied 23 goals and 4 assists for fifty points.  Henderson was also one of the Huskies’ most clutch performers as she scored a team-high five game winning goals in 2002.  Senior Mary Jo Malone is also looking to have a big season in 2003.  Malone was the only other Husky to tally double-digit goals in 2002, notching 10 goals and three assists for 23 points.

Sophomore Becky Helwig made quite an impression on league coaches in 2002 as she was honored as a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection.  Helwig started in 19 games for the Huskies last season and made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals from the midfield.  Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Maureen Butler is back in net for the Huskies after a fabulous 2002 season.  Butler played in all but 26 minutes last season and earned a GAA of 1.30 and a save pct. of .737 against very stiff competition. 

Head coach Nancy Stevens is in her 14^th season with UConn, where she has guided her Huskies to a 187-82-8 record.  Coach Stevens is in her 25^th season as a collegiate field hockey coach and her overall record stands at a remarkable 367-131-24.      

ALBANY

Key Losses: Allison Mann
                 Heidi Bowen               

Key Returnees:  Lisa Burline (Sr.)
                      Alexis Johnson (Jr.)
                      Amber Morris (Jr.)

The University of Albany is coming off a 5-12 record on the 2002 campaign and a 0-5 mark in the competitive America East Conference.  Albany will miss the presence of Allison Mann who registered 13 points on five goals and three assists.  Mann had a flare for the dramatic in 2002, notching the game-winning goal in three of Albany’s five victories.  Heidi Bowen will leave a void on the defensive end for Albany as Bowen anchored the defense in all 16 games she played in, making a remarkable seven defensive saves. 

Albany has plenty to look forward to though, as Second-Team All-America East selection Lisa Burline returns for her senior season.  Burline led the 2002 squad with 15 points on six goals and three assists.  Also returning for Albany is junior Alexis Johnson.  Johnson had a productive sophomore season in 2002 recording four goals and four assists for 12 points.  Both Burline and Johnson should make some noise this weekend. 

Head coach Deborah Fiore holds a record of 76-40-1 in seven seasons at Albany.  Since Fiore led Albany into Division I play three years ago, her squads have performed admirably, going 26-24.  In fact, the 2002 team was the only squad during Fiore’s tenure at Albany that has not produced a winning record.   Overall, Fiore boasts a record of 145-106-4 in 14 years of collegiate coaching.

LAFAYETTE

Key Losses: Megan Monahan
                 Beth Gulotta

Key Returnees:  Jennifer Stone (Sr.)
                      Meredith Hahn (Sr.)
                      Casey Devlin (Sr.)

Lafayette has high hopes for the 2003 season and with good reason.  The Leopards finished the 2002 season with a 19-3 record and with champion’s hardware from the Patriot League Tournament.  The 2002 Leopards outscored their opponents 85-32 and out-shot their foes by an astounding 435-253 margin.  Patriot League coaches expect more of the same from this year’s squad, as Lafayette was chosen to defend its 2002 Patriot League title.

Lafayette will have to pick up the slack left by 2002 star, Megan Monahan.  Monahan was a two-time Patriot League player of the year and was honored as a NFHCA First-Team All-American in 2002.  Monahan started in all 22 of the Leopards contests and notched a sensational 80 points on 33 goals and 14 assists.  Lafayette will also have to recover from the loss of Beth Gulotta.  Gulotta was tied for second on the team in 2002 with 14 goals, and was a leader on the offensive side of the field. 

Bearing the offensive load for the Leopards this year will be seniors Jennifer Stone and Meredith Hahn.  Stone tallied 14 goals and 17 assists for 45 points in 2002 and was named First Team All-Patriot League.  Hahn scored 11 goals in 2002 and notched a team-high 20 assists for 42 points.  Look for these two to do some damage in 2003.

The Leopards are led by five-time Patriot League Coach of the Year Ann Gold.  Gold boasts a record of 266-138-23 in 22 seasons at Lafayette and has built her squad into the dominant force in the Ivy League in recent years.

LEHIGH

Key Losses:     Lisa Nichols

Key Returnees: Blaire Goodwin (Sr.)
                     Maureen Harrington (So.)
                     Kristi Miller (Jr.)

Lehigh field hockey fought through a difficult season in 2002.  The Mountain Hawks finished the campaign with a 4-13 record and went winless (0-6) in Patriot League action.  However, Lehigh looks forward to a much better season in 2003, as all but one starter from last year’s squad will return.  The Mountain Hawks will be without Lisa Nichols in 2003.  Nichols started in all but one of Lafayette’s 17 games in 2002 and although Nichols did not score a goal, she did tally four assists and was looked to as the leader of this young team.

Lehigh will look forward to the return of top-scorers Blaire Goodwin and Maureen Harrington.  Goodwin notched a team-high nine goals for 18 points and Harrington scored four goals and assisted on another.   The Mountain Hawks also have two very solid keepers in Jeanine Hoff and Meghan Grove.  In 2002, Hoff had one shutout and boasted a GAA of 1.86 and a save pct. of .820. 

Head coach Julie Mazer is in her first season at Lehigh and hopes this talented team can improve under her guidance.  Mazer spent the four pervious years at Roanoke College.