University of Connecticut Athletics
Six Huskies Take Home Eight BIG EAST Field Hockey Awards
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2010
HARTFORD, Conn. - Seven different Huskies won a total of nine conference awards as announced at the 2010 BIG EAST Field Hockey Postseason Banquet, which was held at the Hartford Hilton on Friday evening. Five different Huskies were honored on the All-Conference First Team, including Defensive Player of the Year Melissa Gonzalez and Goalkeeper of the Year Sarah Mansfield.
Gonzalez, a First Team All-America selection last season, took home Defensive Player of the Year honors last year as well. She anchored a Husky defense that leads the conference in shutouts (8), goals-against average (0.80), goals allowed per game (0.83) and scoring margin (2.35). The Huskies held opponents to 152 shots, while allowing only 15 goals.
In BIG EAST play, Connecticut's defense allowed six goals and earned two shutouts. In addition to being a constant defensive threat, Gonzalez tallied two goals and four assists for eight points over 18 games. This marks the fifth consecutive year in which a UConn player has won the defensive honor.
Mansfield tops the BIG EAST in four defensive categories, including goals-against average, shutouts, shutouts per game and save percentage. The freshman boasts a 0.86 goals-against average with 13 wins, including six shutouts. She holds a .795 save percentage, while averaging 0.33 shutouts per game. Mansfield held opponents to 15 goals on 145 shots, collecting 58 saves.
Joining Gonzalez and Mansfield on the First Team was Jestine Angelini, Anne Jeute and Rayell Heistand. Angelini led the Huskies with 12 assists and also dished-out three goals on the season. Heistand was also a big part of the Huskies outstanding defense and scored five goals while posting four assists in a remarkably well-rounded regular season. Heistand and Gonzalez were both unanimous selections to the First Team.
Jeute a freshman standout from Meerbusch, Germany led the team with 13 goals and 31 points. Two of her scores were game-winners and she was also the third-leading assister on the squad.
UConn was represented on the All-BIG EAST Second Team by juniors Ali Blankmeyer and Cara Silverman. Blankmeyer was third on the team with 10 goals and her three game-winners marked the second-highest total on the squad. Silverman netted 11 goals and finished second on the team with 24 points. Her four game-winners led the squad.
Connecticut is set to take on Louisville in semifinal action of the 2010 BIG EAST Tournament, which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs.
Offensive Player of the Year
Nicole Youman, Louisville, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year
Melissa Gonzalez, Connecticut, Sr., M
Goalkeeper of the Year
Sarah Mansfield, Connecticut, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Ange Bradley, Syracuse
All-BIG EAST First Team
Jestine Angelini, Connecticut, Jr., B
Jenna Bull, Rutgers, Sr., M
Melissa Gonzalez, Connecticut, Sr., M/B*
Rayell Heistand, Connecticut, Jr., M/B*
Rachel Hollenbach, Louisville, Sr., M
Anne Jeute, Connecticut, Fr., F
Martina Loncarica, Syracuse, Jr., M*
Sarah Mansfield, Connecticut, Fr., GK
Julie Ruggieri, Providence, Sr., M/B
Hayley Turner, Louisville, Jr., M
Nicole Youman, Louisville, Sr., F*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Ali Blankmeyer, Connecticut, Jr., M/F
Erin Conrad, Louisville, R-So., GK
Lindsey Conrad, Syracuse, Sr., M
Leonie Geyer, Syracuse, Fr., F
Laura Hahnfeldt, Syracuse, Fr., B
Jaime Lipski, Providence, Sr., M/B
Nicole Nelson, Syracuse, Jr., B
Dana Ramsden, Villanova, Sr., F/M
Cara Silverman, Jr., Connecticut, F
Abby Sordoni, Villanova, Sr., F
Heather Susek, Syracuse, Jr., F
*unanimous selection
