University of Connecticut Athletics
Connecticut Claims Its Fifth Big East Field Hockey Championship
11/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (Nov. 5) -- It's another trip to postseason play as the top-seeded University of Connecticut field hockey team claimed its fifth Big East
Conference Championship title and fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament after shutting out third-seeded Providence, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at the
George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.Senior All-American Katie Stephens (Hershey, Pa.) had a four point tournament weekend, scoring on a penalty stroke awarded to UConn with 26 minutes remaining in regulation. She would also hit the Huskies' game-winning goal versus fourth-seeded Syracuse in Friday's semifinal game, to undoubtly receive the Most Outstanding Performer Award of the conference tournament.
Junior Kelly Cochrane (Scarsdale, N.Y.) netted in the first goal of the game off an assist from senior All-American Amy Herz (Hershey, Pa.) to put the Huskies in the record books as the first league team to capture three consecutive championship titles.
Connecticut goes to 16-6 on the season and recorded its sixth shutout of the year. The championship and semifinal shutout of Syracuse (1-0), ties for the fewest goals allowed in tournament records history.
With the victory, the Huskies receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament Field of 16, which will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. (EST) via an Internet broadcast of the 2000 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Selection Show at www.ncaachampionships.com. The brackets will reveal the matchups, as well as locations, dates and times of competition.
Providence (7-15) 0 0 -- 0 Connecticut (16-6) 1 1 -- 2SCORING: Connecticut -- Kelly Cochrane (Amy Herz), 7:44 (1st), Katie Stephens (penalty stroke), 26:45 (2nd)
SHOTS: Providence 3, Connecticut, 30 SAVES: 11 (Heather Tattersall, Providence), 3 (Alana Linick, Connecticut) PENALTY CORNERS: Providence 1, Connecticut 21 PENALTY STROKES: Providence 0, Connecticut 1
