University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Set to Defend 18-game Win Streak Over Brown
9/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
About Brown
The Bears are still looking for their first win of the season after dropping all three games so far this season. Brown took an exhibition game from Waterloo, 2-0, but has fallen to Hofstra, 2-1, Rhode Island, 3-2, and Harvard, 1-0. Its game against Dartmouth was postponed.
UConn vs. Brown
The series records between these two teams currently stands at 18-1-1. The series began in 1974 with a 2-2 tie before Brown claimed its only victory against UConn with a 3-0 win. Since then, UConn has won 18 straight games and outscored the Bears, 61-8, including a 12-game stretch from 1978-89 when the Huskies blanked them in every contest.
Last Time Out
In what was a defensive battle, the No. 14 University of Connecticut field hockey team was just edged by Villanova, 2-1, Saturday in the BIG EAST opener for both teams. With identical records entering the game, the win improved the Wildcats to 4-2, 1-0 in the BIG EAST, and dropped the Huskies to 3-3, 0-1 in the BIG EAST.
Both teams remained scoreless for much of the first half before Villanova sophomore Christina Lugones exploded for two goals, a mere three minutes apart, to close out the half.
In a 2-0 hole entering the second half, UConn freshman Lauren Henderson came out with a comeback on her mind and netted one only three and a half minutes in, off a pass from sophomore Amy Marland.
Despite several close shots down the stretch, though, the Huskies were unable to tie the score, and the Wildcats walked away with their first win over UConn since 1992.
Overall, the two teams combined for only 33 shots and 11 penalty corners. UConn goalie Maureen Butler tallied nine saves off the Wildcat’s 14 shots.
Droppin’ the Opener
Last Saturday, the Huskies dropped their conference opener to Villanova, 2-1. It was the first time since 1997 that UConn failed to win its conference opener. Providence defeated UConn on Nov. 13, 1997, 3-2, for the Huskies last conference-opening loss.
Lost Games
In light of the Sept. 11 national tragedy, three UConn field hockey games were canceled. On Sept. 12 the Huskies were slated to take on New Hampshire at Harvard. Then, after an excecutive decision from UConn Athletic Director Lew Perkins, all Husky athletic events for the weekend were canceled, including field hockey match-ups with No. 4 Michigan and No. 9 Iowa in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge in Storrs.
Nearing Perfection
Junior Kelly Stolle and sophomore Amy Marland are boasting shot percentages of .500 and .222, respectively, through the six games played this season. Both were 100 percent against Harvard on Sept. 19 as every shot they tallied scored a goal.
More Than One
Three different Husky players have had multi-goal games so far this season. Freshman Lauren Henderson and junior Kelly Stolle both tallied two goals apiece in UConn’s first victory of the season over St. Joseph’s. In their second win, sophomore Amy Marland netted a whopping three goals, then Stolle added two more in Wednesday’s win over Harvard.
The Protector
Junior goalie Maureen Butler has started all six Husky games this season, and has played all but 3:34 of the 420 minutes of the games. She has tallied one shutout, against St. Joseph’s, and has allowed only eleven goals this season. In UConn’s 4-1 win over Harvard on Sept. 19, she deflected 16 of the Crimson’s 20 shots and allowed just one goal. She currently has 46 saves on the season and an .807 save percentage.
Rulin’ the Conference
Three Husky players are sitting pretty atop the BIG EAST statistical categories for points and goals. Freshman Lauren Henderson, sophomore Amy Marland and junior Kelly Stolle are sitting at first, third and fourth, respectively, in points, and first, second and third, respectively in goals.
The team as a whole is also running the show as UConn leads in the goals scored category with 16 and sits at second in assists with 13, led only by Boston College with 15.
Stevens’ Smokin’
In her 12th season at the University of Connecticut, Nancy Stevens continues to lead the Huskies down the path to success.
While at UConn, she has tallied 12-straight winning seasons, five-straight BIG EAST regular-season championships, five BIG EAST tournament championhips, five-straight NCAA tournament appearances (six overall), three NCAA Final Eight appearances, and two NCAA Final Four appearances.
In her 22 seasons of coaching, Stevens has climbed the charts, and now holds the fourth-highest winning total nationally with a career record of 344-114-24 for a .739 winning percentage.
Ware’s Final Campaign
Megan Ware, the lone senior on this year’s roster has begun her final campaign in good fashion, leading her team to a championship at the Morgan Stanley Husky Classic on Sept. 1-2. Ware has played and started in all six games, tallying 13 shots and two assists on the season thus far. She is also part of a stingy Husky defense that has allowed only 11 goals this season.
Freshmen Phenoms
Two of the nine freshmen on this season’s squad have seen action in every game this season. Lauren Henderson and Kirsty Slagter have started all six UConn games. In addition, Henderson is currently sitting atop UConn and BIG EAST statistical categories with six goals, one assist and 13 points She has also taken the most shots out of all the players in the Husky line-up with 35, 17 more than the next highest.
Puttin’ ’Em In
After going scoreless in their first outing of the season, the Huskies have come back in fine fashion, scoring 16 goals in their past five games to lead the BIG EAST in goals scored.
Stolle’s Accolades
Junior Kelly Stolle was named the BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the week of August 27-September 2, along with Syracuse’s Kristin Aronowicz. Stolle was also named the MVP for the Connecticut team at the Morgan Stanley Husky Classic.
Calling the Shots
So far this season, the Huskies have tallied 99 shots, over 20 more than their opponents.
