University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Wins Sixth BIG EAST Championship
11/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, NY – Becky Helwig netted the game-winner as the University of Connecticut field hockey team captured its record sixth BIG EAST Championship on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Villanova at host Syracuse University’s Coyne Field. The win improves the Huskies to 15-7 on the season and earns them the BIG EAST Conference’s automatic berth in to the NCAA Championships. Villanova slips to 11-9 with the loss.
Villanova scored first 4:05 into the game when Sarah Burdette capitalized on a penalty stroke awarded after UConn goalkeeper Maureen Butler trapped a ball inside the circle. The Huskies tallied three unanswered goals though to take the conference title.
Lauren Henderson, who scored the game-winner in overtime against Syracuse in Friday’s BIG EAST semifinals, added to a resume that would earn her Tournament MVP honors by netting the equalizer at the 10:32 mark. Kelly Cochrane and Lauren Christie assisted on the goal.
Helwig’s goal at 44:14 held up as the game winner, the strike coming off of a cross by Laura Thibodeau. Henderson added her second of the game for insurance, again with assists going to Cochrane and Christie.
UConn enjoyed a decisive 21-6 shot advantage in the contest and earned 15 penalty corners to Villanova’s six. Butler made four saves in the Husky net to earn the win.
The teams and first round sites for the NCAA Championships will be announced on Tuesday.
