University of Connecticut Athletics
Connecticut vs. Penn State Game Notes
9/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
About Penn State
Penn State is still looking for its first victory after dropping heart-breaking losses in the early season to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 1 Old Dominion by scores of 3-1 and 1-0, respectively. The Nittany Lions even battled the 2000 National Champions into overtime in the loss to Old Dominion.
About UConn
After suffering a loss to No. 2 North Carolina, 4-0, in their opening game of the season, the Huskies battled back last weekend to defeat St. Joseph’s, 4-0, and Albany, 6-1, to take the championship at theMorgan Stanley Husky Classic held at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Connecticut.
The match-up on Saturday with the Penn State Nittany Lions will be the second against a ranked opponent for the Huskies, as neither team in last weekend’s tournament was ranked.
Last Time Out
The Huskies came out and pounded their competition last weekend at the Morgan Stanley Husky Classic.
The UConn defense allowed the Hawks of St. Joseph’s a mere six shots for the entire game. Against Albany, the Great Danes were able to squeak a shot past goalie Maureen Butler in the first half, and looked to still be in the game with the score tied at 1-1 after the first 35 minutes, but UConn blew the game wide open in the second half by adding five more goals.
Stevens’ Smokin’
In her 12th season at the University of Connecticut, Nancy Stevens continues to lead the Huskies down the path to success.
While at UConn, she has tallied 12-straight winning seasons, five-straight BIG EAST regular-season championships, five BIG EAST tournament championhips, five-straight NCAA tournament appearences (six overall), three NCAA Final Eight appearances, and two NCAA Final Four appearances.
In her 22 seasons of coaching, Stevens has climbed the charts, and now holds the fourth-highest winning total with a career record of 344-114-24 for a .739 winning percentage.
Third Time’s a Charm
Three different Huskies have tallied three goals already this season. Both freshman Lauren Henderson and junior Kelly Stolle scored twice in the game against St. Joseph’s and once in the game against Albany. Sophomore Amy Marland racked up all three of her goals against Albany, two of which were unassisted. All three have also tallied an assist each to give them seven points on the season, making them three of the four players in the BIG EAST to top the charts in points currently.
Ware’s Final Campaign
Megan Ware, the lone senior on this year’s roster has begun her final campaign in good fashion, leading her team to a championship at the Morgan Stanley Husky Classic last weekend. Ware has played and started in all three games, tallying 11 shots and two assists on the season thus far.
Freshmen Phenoms
Two of the nine freshmen on this season’s squad have seen action in every game this season. Lauren Henderson and Kirsty Slagter have started all three UConn games. In addition, Henderson is currently sitting atop UConn and BIG EAST statistical categories with three goals, one assist and seven points. She has also taken the most shots out of all the players in the Husky line-up with 19, eight more than the next highest.
Puttin’ ’Em In
After going scoreless in their first outing of the season, the Huskies have come back in fine fashion, scoring 10 goals in only two games to lead the BIG EAST in goals scored. The next closest is Providence with six. UConn also leads in assists with eight.
Stolle’s Accolades
Junior Kelly Stolle was named the BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Week last week, along with Syracuse’s Kristin Aronowicz. Stolle was also named the MVP for the Connecticut team at the Morgan Stanley Husky Classic.
