University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Field Hockey Announces 2005 Freshman Class
4/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (April 13, 2005) - The University of Connecticut field hockey team has announced that seven student-athletes will join the program beginning with the 2005 season.
This year’s University of Connecticut field hockey incoming freshman class includes Dani Griep (Marathon, N.Y.), Jennifer Kleinhans (Manheim, Germany), Lindsey Leck (Clarksburg, N.J.), Andrea Mainiero (Zionsville, Pa.), Shannon Slaughter (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Meghan Wheeler (Canton, Mass.) and Kiera Williams (Dover, N.H.).
Griep, a 5-6 midfielder, guided Marathon Central High School to an overall mark of 80-2 during her four-year prep career, which included state championships during her sophomore and junior seasons. She was named a First Team Division All-Star in each of the last two seasons and registered 10 goals and six assists during her senior season.
Kleinhans, a 5-5 midfielder and back, was a member of the 2001 and 2002 under-18 state championship teams at Karl-Friedrich Gymnasium. She also was a member of the varsity soccer team at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Fla., in 2002 and 2003. Was a three-time All-State All-Star selection. In 2002, she was named to the Under-16 German National Team.
Leck, a 5-4 forward, helped Allentown (N.J.) High School to four consecutive CVC Valley Division championships (2001-04), back-to-back Mercer County Tournament championships (2003-04) and a NJSIAA Group II State Runner-Up finish in 2003. Leck owns the school and conference scoring record with 44 goals and 20 assists during her senior season and was a first team Associated Press All-State selection and Newark Star Ledger First Team All-State choice. Was also a 2004 NFHCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region choice and was selected to play in the 2004 USA-Canada Challenge.
Mainiero, a 5-7 goalkeeper, helped Emmaus (Pa.) High School to a combined mark of 101-6-1 mark over her four seasons which included three Lehigh Valley Conference Championships (2001, 2002, 2004), four District XI crowns (2001-04), three state championship appearances (2001, 2002, 2004) and a pair of state titles (2001, 2004).
Slaughter, a 5-4 back, joins UConn after scoring 33 goals and dishing out 27 assists during her prep career at Shrewsbury High School. Slaughter was named to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super All-Star Team as a senior and was a four-time league all-star. The three-sport athlete also was a member of Shrewsbury High School’s basketball team for four seasons while running track for two.
Wheeler, a 5-3 back, was a key factor in Canton (Mass.) High School’s 2004 Division II State Championship, which saw the Bulldogs post a record of 22-0-1 overall. Wheeler tallied 16 goals and 12 assists en route to the state crown and was named Hockomock League Most Valuable Player. Was also a 2004 NFHCA All-America choice and was selected to play in the 2004 USA-Canada Challenge.
Williams, a 5-7 forward, posted 14 goals and 19 assists while leading St. Thomas Aquinas (N.H.) High School to an appearance in the 2004 state semifinals. Williams was named the New Hampshire Player of the year as a senior in addition to being recognized as first team All-State for the second consecutive year. Was also a 2004 NFHCA Northeast All-Region selection.
UConn opens the 2005 regular season on Friday, August 26 when it hosts Albany beginning at 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs.
