University of Connecticut Athletics
Connecticut Field Hockey Honored with Four BIG EAST Awards
11/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
After claiming the BIG EAST regular season crown for a fifth consecutive year and sweeping conference competition for a second year in a row there is no question why the nationally-ranked Huskies were honored with four awards selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
Senior Laura Klein (Fairfield, N.J.) was honored for the second consecutive season as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. The two-time All-American forward becomes the conference's first back-to-back winner of the award, as well as the first four-time All-BIG EAST First Team performer. She led the Huskies in scoring this season and ranks fourth all-time for Connecticut with 121 career points.
The Defensive Player of the Year award was given to senior back Katie Stephens (Hershey, Pa.) who anchored the Husky defense to four shutouts this season. The preseason candidate for the award, Stephens became the 10th player in school history to reach the UConn 100-Point Elite with 103 career points.
Freshman Amy Marland (Mt. Warrigal, Australia) claimed Rookie of the Year honors after making an immediate impact for the Huskies and led the team with 13 goals this season. The Aussie also led the conference in scoring in league play and was honored five times with the weekly rookie award.
The Coach of the Year award went to UConn coach Nancy Stevens who led the Huskies to a 14-6 record and a sweep of BIG EAST competition this season. Stevens ranks second all-time in NCAA Division I coaching victories with 341 wins in 22 seasons. She has posted 161 of those wins at Connecticut and has guided the Huskies to four conference tournament crowns and two appearances in the past two NCAA Final Fours.
Connecticut also dominated All-BIG EAST First and Second Team honorees with five selections. Senior All-American forward Amy Herz (Willow Grove, Pa.) joined Klein and Stephens on the first team, while senior back Sara Sartori (Dover Plains, N.Y.) and junior forward Megan Ware (Latham, N.Y.) were honored on the second team. Marland was unanimously selected to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.
