University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Syracuse
BIG EAST Field Hockey Champions!!!
11/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 8, 2009
BIG EAST Field Hockey Postgame Interviews and Highlights
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The No. 7-ranked and No. 2-seeded University of Connecticut field hockey team claimed the program's 11th BIG EAST Conference Tournament Title with a 2-1 victory over No. 5-ranked and No. 1-seeded Syracuse in the BIG EAST Final on Sunday afternoon at Providence College.
With the win, Connecticut improves to 19-2 overall, while Syracuse slips to 17-3 with the loss.
The Huskies, who earned the BIG EAST's automatic NCAA Tournament berth, will now await their NCAA seed, site and opening round opponent, which will be announced during the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey Selection Show, which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on www.NCAA.org
The victory also marked the 500th in the career of UConn head coach Nancy Stevens. Stevens becomes only the second coach in NCAA Division I field hockey history to reach the 500-win plateau - joining current Old Dominion head Beth Anders.
The Huskies improve to 28-9 all-time in BIG EAST Tournament action, including an 11-6 mark in the championship game of the conference tournament. Connecticut also improved to 10-3 all-time against Syracuse in BIG EAST Tournament action. The Huskies were making their eighth consecutive appearance in the BIG EAST Title game and the 17th in program history.
UConn wasted no time establish control of the contest from the outset as it controlled play in the Syracuse end to begin the first half and managed to get on the scoreboard just over six minutes into the action.
Sophomore Ali Blankmeyer (Convent Station, N.J.) tipped in a cross from senior Loren Sherer (Essex, England) at 6:10 for her 11th goal of the season, giving Connecticut a 1-0 advantage.
The two squads battled back and forth but remained scoreless for the remainder of the opening half, as the teams finished the first half tied in shots at 3-3 and in corners at 1-1, and headed into intermission with UConn leading 1-0.
Syracuse had to play a position player down for an eight-minute stretch in the second half following a foul by the Orange's Amy Kee at 40:09.
Sherer helped the Huskies take quick advantage of the 11-on-10 opportunity as she netted a feed from Jestine Angelini (Boiling Springs, Pa.) and beat Syracuse keeper Leann Stiver inside the right post at 41:30, making the score 2-0 UConn.
The goal by Sherer marked her 31st of the season, which ties the UConn single-season goals record, previously set by Lauren Henderson (2004) and Rose Aspelin (1996).
Syracuse was tacked with another major penalty at 40:09 as Maggie Befort was hit with the team's second yellow card of the half - forcing the Orange to play two players down for the next five minutes.
The cards kept coming in the second half as Connecticut's Blankmeyer was issued a yellow at 47:28 and forced to sit out for a span of eight minutes.
Nicole Nelson pulled Syracuse to within 2-1 with 7:23 remaining in regulation with her first goal of the season, to account for the final margin.
For the game, UConn outshot Syracuse 9-8 and attempted four penalty corners to the Orange's three.
UConn's Sherer was named the BIG EAST Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was joined by teammates Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.), Rayell Heistand (Hamburg, Pa.), Andrea Mainiero (Emmaus, Pa.) and Kim Kryzk (Seaville, N.J.) on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
The Huskies will be making their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance - and their eighth consecutive. Connecticut boasts a 26-18 all-time mark in NCAA Tournament action.
