University of Connecticut Athletics
Eight Huskies Honored at BIG EAST Postseason Banquet
11/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nancy Stevens Named BIG EAST Coach of the Year for Second Straight Time
CHESTNUT HILL, MA (November 6) -- After winning its seventh BIG EAST Regular Season title in eight years, the University of Connecticut field hockey team garnered several individual accolades at the BIG EAST Postseason Banquet in Chestnut Hill, MA on Thursday as UConn prepares to defend its BIG EAST Tournament crown this weekend.
Junior Lauren Henderson (Avondale Harare, Zimbabwe) was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year after she completed the regular season with 23 goals and 48 points. Henderson was also outstanding in BIG EAST games, tallying a league-high eight goals and 16 points. Henderson bolted up UConn's career-record list in goals and points and now sits at second place on both career lists. She was honored as BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week for the past two weeks. Henderson is the first Husky to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since Laura Klein in 2000.
Maureen Butler (Red Hook, NY) was named BIG EAST Goaltender of the Year after her rock solid senior campaign that saw her earn 14 wins and collect eight shutouts. Butler registered a goals against average of 0.95 and is currently one of only five net-minders in the nation with a goals against average under one goal per game. Butler is also tenth nationally in save percentage, boasting a .818 mark. Butler garnered BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week four times in 2003. Butler is the second Husky ever to win the award. Danielle Vile garnered the honor in 1999.
Joining Butler and Henderson on the All-BIG EAST First Team were senior Mary Jo Malone (Water Mill, NY) and junior back Abby Ostruzka (Riverside, CT). Sophomore Laura Puddle (London, England) and senior Kelly Stolle (Warren, CT) were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Stolle also placed on the second team in 2001 and 2002.
Stevens was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career after winning her 200th game at Connecticut and leading the Huskies to their second straight regular season crown.
#1 seeded UConn begins the defense of its BIG EAST Tournament title with a contest against #4 Rutgers on Friday at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA. Game-time is set for 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by the second semifinal pitting #2 Villanova and #3 Boston College. The semifinal winners will play for the championship Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m.
