Five UConn Field Hockey Players Named All-Mideast Region

Sophomore Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) and seniors Lauren Aird (Harare, Zimbabwe) and Jennifer Kleinhans (Mannheim, Germany) were named to the All-Mideast Region First Team, while seniors Lindsey Leck (Clarksburg, N.J.) and Meghan Wheeler (Canton, Mass.) were recognized with  All-Mideast Region Second Team status.

The five players helped lead UConn to a 17-4 record, and a clinch of the BIG EAST Regular Season title, the 11^th in the programs history.

Aird, who was previously honored as a first team All-BIG EAST choice, led the Huskies in goals for the season with 20, and her career total of 69 ranks as the third-most in UConn career annals.  The senior registered 10 game-winning goals for the Huskies during 2008, including a stretch in which she scored the game-winner in overtime in three consecutive games against Princeton, Michigan and Providence.

Kleinhans, named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight season, led the Huskies with 10 assists and was the unquestioned leader of the UConn defense which ranked fifth nationally.  She was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team and earned the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for the week of October 5-12.

Gonzalez, named a member of Team USA at the 2008 Pan-Am Junior Championships which captured a gold medal this past October, tallied 10 goals and had two assists, including a career-best three-goal effort against Rutgers.  She was also named as a first team all-BIG EAST choice.

Leck contributed eight goals and nine assists on the season, while starting all 21 games.  She was named to the All-BIG EAST second team and the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team

Wheeler totaled three goals and five assists for the season, including a score in the Huskies BIG EAST semifinal win over Louisville. She was named to the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team and selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, in addition to earning All-BIG EAST second team status.  

University of Connecticut Athletics

Gonzalez, named a member of Team USA at the 2008 Pan-Am Junior Championships which captured a gold medal this past October, tallied 10 goals and had two assists, including a career-best three-goal effort against Rutgers.&nbsp; She was also named as a first team all-BIG EAST choice.

Leck contributed eight goals and nine assists on the season, while starting all 21 games.&nbsp; She was named to the All-BIG EAST second team and the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team

Wheeler totaled three goals and five assists for the season, including a score in the Huskies BIG EAST semifinal win over Louisville. She was named to the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team and selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, in addition to earning All-BIG EAST second team status. &nbsp;

Players Mentioned

Lauren Aird

Melissa Gonzalez

Jennifer Kleinhans

Lindsey Leck

Meghan Wheeler

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Gonzalez, named a member of Team USA at the 2008 Pan-Am Junior Championships which captured a gold medal this past October, tallied 10 goals and had two assists, including a career-best three-goal effort against Rutgers. She was also named as a first team all-BIG EAST choice.

Leck contributed eight goals and nine assists on the season, while starting all 21 games. She was named to the All-BIG EAST second team and the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team

Wheeler totaled three goals and five assists for the season, including a score in the Huskies BIG EAST semifinal win over Louisville. She was named to the 2008 NFHCA Senior All-Star Team and selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, in addition to earning All-BIG EAST second team status.