University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Picked to Capture BIG EAST Division Title
8/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PROVIDENCE, RI (August 1) – For the second consecutive year, the University of Connecticut and Notre Dame women’s soccer team have been picked to capture the 2002 BIG EAST women’s soccer regular season divisional titles as voted by the conference coaches. The Huskies were picked to repeat as the Northeast Division champions, while the fighting Irish are picked to finish atop the Mid-Atlantic Division.
Senior Sarah Popper (Penn Yan, NY) and sophomore Kristen Grassy (Albuquerque, NM) were both named to the BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Popper, a leader in the UConn midfield, has two goals and four assists for eight points this season. The honor marked the first time she had been selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team. She earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team as a freshman in 1999. Graczyk, a BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honoree last season, led the team in scoring in 2001 with 24 points on a team-best 10 goals and four assists. The freshman forward earned BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors twice during the season and has played in all 20 of UConn’s games thus far.
The Huskies, defending the Northeast champions lost in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship to West Virginia, 1-0. UConn received a bid to the NCAA Tournament and reached the third round. Connecticut completed the 2001 season with a record of 18-6 and spot on the NSCAA/adidas poll at No. 10, the highest-ranking BIG EAST team that year.
The Irish, who won their seventh consecutive BIG EST Tournament in 2001, ended their season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 17-3 record. Boston College captured second place with three votes in the Northeast Division, while West Virginia chased Notre Dame with three first place votes of its own.
Carli Lloyd of Rutgers was chosen as the 2002 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Notre Dame’s Vanessa Pruzinsky was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Providence’s Caroline Haines was picked as the Goalkeeper of the Year.
UConn opens the 2002 season with the annual UConn Classic on Friday, August 30. The Huskies will host Hartford at 7:00 pm, following the Fordham/Maryland game at 4:30 pm.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Carli Lloyd, So., Rutgers
Defensive Player of the Year
Vanessa Pruzinsky, Sr., Notre Dame
Goalkeeper of the Year
Caroline Haines, Jr., Providence
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Chrissie Abbott, Jr., F, West Virginia
Candace Chapman, So., F, Notre Dame
Kristen Graczyk, So., F, Connecticut
Caroline Haines, Jr., GK, Providence
Carli Lloyd, So., F, Rutgers
Vonda Matthews, Jr., F, Miami
Sarah Popper, Sr., M, Connecticut
Vanessa Pruzinsky, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Sarah Rahko, So., M/F, Boston College
Lisa Stoia, So., M, West Virginia
Amy Warner, So., F, Notre Dame
2001 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Northeast
1. Connecticut 99
2. Boston College 80
3. Syracuse 67
4. Miami 56
5. Virginia Tech 34
6. Providence 33
7. St. John’s 26
Mid-Atlantic
1. Notre Dame 99
2. West Virginia 80
3. Rutgers 67
4. Villanova 56
5. Georgetown 41
t6. Seton Hall 26
t6. Pittsburgh 26
