The University of Southern Maine field hockey team recently won the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament with a 3-1 win over top-seeded Keene State. With the win, the Huskies earned automatic qualification into the 2003 NCAA Division III Championship. They will be competing against 18 other teams for the Division III Field Hockey Title.
The 2003 Little East Conference commissioner, William M. Moore, announced last week that six members of the USM field hockey team earned All-LEC Honors in 2003. Moore also announced that USM senior goal tender Jessie Superchi, Campton, NH, had been named Defensive Player of the Year. Superchi, along with teammates senior forward Renee Heath, Brunswick, ME, and senior midfielder Deedra Boudreau, Camden, ME, were named to the All- Little East first team.
Superchi commented on the tremendous performance by her teammates and coaching staff, as well as the teams’ goals and expectations going into the finals. “Our coaches have done a great job preparing us for upcoming games and the playoffs will be no different,” said Superchi. She added, “The top teams in our conference haven’t seen USM field hockey yet. We play as a team win or lose. Each team member is an integral part of our success as a team and as individuals.”
Earning a spot on the All- Little East second team were senior forward Sarah Dolley, Oakland, ME; senior midfielder Darci Holland, Buckfield, ME; and senior back Amy Ouellette, Jay, ME. Heath was also honored by being named the Most Outstanding Player at the LEC championship two weeks ago for her tremendous performance during the tournament. The six seniors have all shown excellent performances and statistics, with exceptional contributions from every member of the team.
Head Coach for the Huskies, Bonny Brown-Denico, talked about her team and its qualification into the 2003 NCAA championship tournament. “We are probably in the toughest regional of all with the Defending National Champs in Rowan and the number one ranked team in the country is Middlebury. However, it just makes another challenge for our team,” said Brown-Denico. She added that the team is full of superstitions. “We were ranked third in LEC’s and won and are ranked third in this regional. There are all kinds of other little things that each player is doing as well.”
The USM Huskies earned a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1992. With the hard work and desire that these young ladies express while competing to win, the Huskies have a good shot at the championship game.
According to coach Brown-Denico, “With a bit of luck and everyone playing up to their potential we can win this.”
The Huskies, currently 17-5, will face Rowan University of Glassboro, NJ, the 2002 NCAA champion, in the second round of the tournament at Middlebury College (prior to press time). In last year’s finals, hosted by Springfield College in Springfield, MA, Rowan won its first Division III championship and completed an undefeated season.
This year’s NCAA Finals are scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22 and are to be played at Arnold Field on the campus of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA.