NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA–The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s field hockey team grabbed a 2-0 halftime lead and defeated Western Connecticut State, 4-1, at Cressy Field Saturday in the final Little East Conference match of the season for both teams..

Senior midfielder Robin Dziedzic (Palmer, MA/Palmer HS) assisted on both UMass Dartmouth goals in the first half, while sophomore forward Caitlin DiCecca (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford HS) scored once in each half as the Corsairs won their third consecutive Little East match and won for the third time in their last four games.

DiCecca opened the scoring, converting a pass from Dziedzic with 26:51 remaining in the first half. Sophomore forward Lindsay Berube (Somerset, MA/Somerset HS) made it 2-0 with six and a half minutes remaining in the first half, with Dziedzic assisting again.

Junior forward Larissa Correia (Fairhaven, MA/Fairhaven HS) made it 3-0 with 30:39 remaining in the second half. Amanda Hadgraft scored the lone goal for WCSU with 21:32 to play, and DiCecca’s goal with 19:31 remaining finished the scoring.

“We played very well,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jen Burrows. “Our seniors really stepped it up, because it was their last game, and they wanted to play well for each other.”

UMD out shot Western Connecticut, 35-12. Ashley Quinn made 13 saves for the Colonials, while junior Liz Fitzgerald (Danvers, MA/Danvers HS) made six and junior Jessica Tavares (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth HS) made two for UMass Dartmouth.

The Corsairs improved to 9-10, 6-5 in the Little East Conference with the victory, while the Colonials fell to 1-12 and 0-11.UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they play a quarter-final round playoff match in the Little East Conference tournament, most likely away from home. The pairings will be announced Monday.

UMASS DARTMOUTH 4, WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE 1

WESTERN CONNECTICUT               0 1-1
UMASS DARTMOUTH                      2 2-4

1, UMD, Caitlin DiCecca (Robin Dziedzic) 8:09
2, UMD, Lindsay Berube (Dziedzic) 28:30
3, UMD, Larissa Correia (unassisted) 39:11
4, WCSU, Amanda Hadgraft (Danielle Mauro) 48:28
3, UMD, Caitlin DiCecca (unassisted) 50:29

SHOTS: WCSU 12, UMD 35. SAVES: WCSU, Ashley Quinn, 13, UMD, Liz Fitzgerald, 6, Jessica Tavares, 2.

2005 Little East Conference Field Hockey Awards
Offensive Player of the Year — Lilly Silva, Senior, Forward, Plymouth State University
Defensive Player of the Year — Caitlin Nottebart, Senior, Back, UMass Dartmouth
Rookie of the Year — Amanda Spadafora, Junior, Forward, Plymouth State University
Coach of the Year — Beth Bacher, Fitchburg State College

PROVIDENCE, RI — Plymouth State University senior forward Lilly Silva (Lowell, MA) receives Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, UMass Dartmouth senior back Caitlin Nottebart (Walpole, MA) is recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Plymouth State’s junior forward Amanda Spadafora (Saratoga Springs, NY) earns Rookie of the Year accolades and Head Coach Beth Bacher of Fitchburg State College is cited as the league’s Coach of the Year to highlight the league's annual list of award winners.
     During the 17-game season, Silva led the Panthers and was second in the league with 17 goals and 41 points. Her efforts helped lead the Panthers to a share of the LEC Regular Season Championship. Silva was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week three times, including consecutive weeks as she tallied eight goals and two assists in that span. She tallied one hat trick and six game-winning goals over the course of the season.
     Nottebart was a solid part of a UMass Dartmouth defense which helped carry the Corsairs to a birth in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. The Corsairs, who were picked to finish 11th in the pre-season poll, earned a sixth-place tie after regular season play. During the season, Nottebart was responsible for preventing five shots from scoring as she compiled five defensive saves.
     A two-time recipient of the league’s Rookie of the Week award, Spadafora finished with six goals and three assists for 15 points. That point total led all first-year players in the conference. Her steady play up front helped guide the Panthers to the semi-finals of the LEC Tournament where they were upset by Westfield State.
     Bacher’s Falcons finished the regular season as the third place team in the LEC, two spots up from where they were picked to finish during the pre-season. At one point in the season, Bacher’s squad rattled off 11 consecutive wins and started the season 12-1. Fitchburg was the third seed in the LEC Tournament but fell in the first round to sixth-seeded UMass Dartmouth.
     Joining Silva on the All-Conference First Team at forward are Westfield State sophomore Megan Wolski (Plymouth, MA), Framingham State senior Jenn Johnson (Uxbridge, MA) and Fitchburg State junior Sarah Proctor (Lunenburg, MA).
     The First Team midfield features Keene State junior Amanda Rosenbeck (Wilder, VT), UMass Dartmouth senior Robin Dziedzic (Palmer, MA) and Plymouth State junior Christina Farias (East Dennis, MA).
     Along with Nottebart, the First Team defensive backfield showcases Keene State senior Tiffany Underhill (Eastham, MA), Eastern Connecticut senior Erika Profenno (South Portland, ME) and Keene State junior goalkeeper Sara Joyce (Hampstead, NH).
     Earning Second Team All-Conference honors at forward are Westfield State junior Shannon Litterst (Falmouth, MA), Worcester State senior Andrea McAllister (Leominster, MA), UMass Dartmouth sophomore Caitlin DiCecca (Chelmsford, MA) and Keene State junior Nicole Garneau (Twin Mountain, NH).
     The Second Team midfield features Fitchburg State junior Sarah Peltokangas (New Ipswich, NH), Framingham State sophomore Erin Johnson (Uxbridge, MA) and Westfield State junior Kate Anderson (Georgetown, MA).
     The Second Team defensive backs are Worcester State senior Angela Notaro (Clinton, MA), Plymouth State junior Laurie Allinson (Berwick, ME) and Southern Maine junior Justine Larnerd (Cherry Hill, NJ), while the Second Team goalkeeper is Framingham State senior Lindsay McKearney (North Attleboro, MA).

First Team
Name 		Position 		Class 		Institution 
Lilly Silva 		Forward 		Senior 		Plymouth State University
Megan Wolski 	Forward 		Sophomore 	Westfield State College
Jenn Johnson 	Forward 		Senior 		Framingham State College
Sarah Proctor 	Forward 		Junior 		Fitchburg State College
Amanda Rosenbeck 	Midfield 		Junior 		Keene State College
Robin Dziedzic 	Midfield 		Senior 		UMass Dartmouth
Christina Farias 	Midfield 		Junior 		Plymouth State University
Tiffany Underhill 	Back 		Senior 		Keene State College
Caitlin Nottebart 	Back 		Senior 		UMass Dartmouth
Erika Profenno 	Back 		Senior 		Eastern Connecticut State University
Sara Joyce 		Goalkeeper 	Junior 		Keene State College 

Second Team
Name 		Position 		Class 		Institution 
Shannon Litterst 	Forward 		Junior 		Westfield State College
Andrea McAllister 	Forward 		Senior 		Worcester State College
Caitlin DiCecca 	Forward 		Sophomore 	UMass Dartmouth
Nicole Garneau 	Forward 		Junior 		Keene State College
Sarah Peltokangas 	Midfield 		Junior 		Fitchburg State College
Erin Johnson 	Midfield 		Sophomore 	Framingham State College
Kate Anderson 	Midfield 		Junior 		Westfield State College
Angela Notaro 	Back 		Senior 		Worcester State College
Laurie Allinson 	Back 		Junior 		Plymouth State University
Justine Larnerd 	Back 		Junior 		University of Southern Maine
Lindsay McKearney 	Goalkeeper 	Senior 		Framingham State College

Both Henley and Brown recorded their first goals of the season as the Huskies snapped a four-game slide to improve to 6-10 overall and 5-4 in the LEC. With the loss, Western Connecticut slips to 1-11 on the season and remains winless in conference play at 0-10.

Henley struck first for the Huskies when she drove in a neatly placed pass from senior forward Kayla Vaughan (Monroe, Maine/Mt. View) 2:55 into the game.

Despite out-shooting the Colonials 24-4 in the game and 16-1 in the opening stanza, the Huskies took just a 1-0 advantage into the half as Western Connecticut junior goalkeeper Ashley Quinn (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) managed to keep the Huskies at bay. Quinn turned back 12 shots in the first half and 18 in the game in a solid performance for Western Connecticut.

Southern Maine added an insurance goal 13 minutes into the second half when junior defender Denise Minigell (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) found Brown with a nifty across the circle pass. The assist was Minigell’s team-leading fourth of the season.

Southern Maine goalkeepers junior Sadie Garnache-Poirier (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) and freshman Natalie Nimon (Augusta, Maine/Augusta) split time in goal for the Huskies. Garnache-Poirier made one save on one shot in the first half, while Nimon turned back three shots in the second half.

Southern Maine returns to action at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25 at Bowdoin College. Western Connecticut plays again Saturday, October 29 at home versus UMass Dartmouth at 1 p.m.

At Gorham, Maine
                                                         1 2 F
Western Connecticut (1-11, 0-10 )    0 0 0
Southern Maine (5-10, 4-4)              1 1 2

Scoring: 1. SM, Lisa Henley (Kayla Vaughan) 2:55 2. SM, Erica Brown (Denise Minigell) 48:36 Goalie Saves: SM, Sadie Garnache-Poirier 1 (35:00 min); Natalie Nimon 3 (35:00 min) WC, Ashley Quinn 18 Shots: SM, 24 WC, 4 Penalty Corners: SM, 18 WC, 1 Defensive Saves: None

DANBURY, CT - Cailyn Morgan (Gardner, MA) scored the game-winning goal in the 60th minute as Framingham State College defeated Western Connecticut State University, 2-1 in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Friday evening.
     The Rams, now 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the Little East Conference, took a 1-0 advantage when their leading scorer, Jennifer Johnson (Uxbridge, MA) netted her 11th goal of the season 7:51 into the contest.
     Framingham State could have taken a 2-1 into intermission after being awarded a penalty stroke with four seconds remaining in the first half. WestConn's goalie Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) came up huge, as she has done all season, with a spectacular save with her right pad off the attempt from Meghan Staffiere (Norwood, MA).
     The Colonials, 1-10 overall and 0-9 in the LEC, evened the score at 1-1 when Michelle Boscia (LaGrangeville, NY) deposited her second goal of the season in the 28th minute.
     Quinn made 13 saves for the Colonials, which were playing their final home game of the season.
     Lindsay McKearney (North Attleboro, MA) did not have to make a save for the Rams as they held a 22-4 shot advantage in the game.
     WestConn travels to University of Southern Maine in a make up game this Sunday, October 23. Game time is slated for 1 p.m.

                                                             1st Half    2nd Half  Final
Worcester State College (6-8, 3-5)               5            4           9
Western Connecticut (1-9, 0-8)                    0             0           0

Worcester, MA - The Worcester State College Lancers field hockey team defeated the visiting Colonials of Western Connecticut State University Wednesday evening by the final score of 9-0 under the lights of Coughlin Field on the campus of Worcester State College. Worcester State keeps their playoff hopes alive improving to 6-8 (3-5 LEC) while Western Connecticut falls to 1-9 (0-8 LEC).

Senior co-captain Angela Notaro (Clinton, Mass) scored the game winner with 30:23 remaining in the first half and the Lancers never looked back scoring five first half goals and adding four more in the second half to earn the 9-0 victory.

Notaro finished the game with a goal and an assist. Junior Ann Clark (Worcester, Mass) notched a hat trick and Jennifer Lyons (Norwood, Mass.), Megan Rosborough (Uxbridge, Mass.), Colleen Flynn (Arlington, Mass.), Kimberly Cosenza (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Andrea McAllister (Leominster, Mass.) each added single goals.

Sophomore Nichole Gomes (E. Harwich, Mass.) made 5 saves in net for the Lancers while Western Connecticut keeper Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 17 saves in the loss.

Worcester State will travel to Keene State on Saturday as they continue their quest for a postseason berth in the Little East playoffs, while Western Connecticut will host Framingham State on Friday.

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 30:23 WORFH Angela Notaro (Jennifer Lyons) - Penalty Corner
2. 28:16 WORFH Ann Clark (Jennifer Lyons)
3. 22:01 WORFH Jennifer Lyons (Angela Notaro) - Penalty Corner
4. 12:09 WORFH Megan Rosborough (Ginelle Blais)
5. 4:00 WORFH Ann Clark (Kimberly Cosenza)
6. 33:02 WORFH Ann Clark (Jennifer Lyons)
7. 26:45 WORFH Andrea McAllister (Kara Walker)
8. 19:13 WORFH Kimberly Cosenza (Colleen Flynn)
9. 3:43 WORFH Colleen Flynn (Courtney Vogel)

Shots: Western Connecticut 4, Worcester State 26
Saves: Western Connecticut 17 (Ashley Quinn 17), Worcester State 4 (Nichole Gomes 4)

LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE
Rookie of the Week

Michelle Boscia
Freshman
ForwardWestern Connecticut State University

Boscia led WCSU, winless in the LEC this year, to a near upset of first-place Fitchburg State. She scored the Colonials’ lone goal as they fell, 2-1, to the Falcons.

DANBURY, CT - Fitchburg State College held on to defeat Western Connecticut State University, 2-1 in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Saturday night.
     The Falcons, now 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the Little East Conference, took a 1-0 advantage when Kristen Frazier (Middleboro, MA) netted her ninth goal of the season in the fifth minute of play. She collected the ball after a blast from the stick of Sarah Peltokangus (New Ipswich, NH) from the right side.
     Nineteen minutes later Lisa Ferrantino (Grafton, MA) scored fifth goal of the season and following a save by WestConn goalie Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY). Ferrantino was left alone following the kick out.
     WestConn got on the scoreboard in the 44th minute when Michelle Boscia (LaGrangeville, NY) scored her first career goal on a breakaway.
     Quinn made seven saves for the Colonials, now 1-8 overall and 0-7 in the LEC.
     Christina Charron (Grafton, MA) made four saves for the Falcons.
     WestConn travels Worcester State this Wednesday, October 19 for a 7 p.m. start.

MANSFIELD, Conn. - The Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University defeated in-state rival Western Connecticut State University in a 2-0 decision Tuesday in the Warriors sixth Little East Conference match of the season.

The win pushed Eastern’s conference record to 2-4 and 3-8 overall. Western is currently 1-7 overall in its first season of intercollegiate play and 0-6 in the Little East.

Sophomore forward Stephanie Mongelli (PEQUANNOCK, NJ) put up the first point of the game off of an assist from sophomore forward Lindsay Raymond (NIANTIC). The goal, with 18:33 left in the first half, was Mongelli’s fourth goal of the season and third in the last four games.

Raymond scored her second goal of the season with 15:59 left in the second half. Freshman mid-fielder Danielle Ulacco (SOUTHBURY) handed off a pass from senior forward Elena Lupone (CLINTON), enabling Raymond to score Eastern’s eighth goal of the season.

Senior goaltender Jessica Roberts (WESTBROOK) earned her second shut out of the season. Roberts had four saves throughout the game while Western’s Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) stopped 18 Eastern shot attempts.

The Warriors dominated Western throughout the game in corners with a 6-1 advantage in the first half and 8-1 in the second half.

Eastern hosts another Little East Conference match Saturday at 1 p.m. against Framingham State College

Eastern 2, Western 0
Eastern Conn. (3-8, 2-4 little east) 1 1 -- 2
Western Conn. (1-7, 0-6 little east) 0 0 -- 0
Scoring: Stephanie Mongelli (Lindsay Raymond) 16:27; Lindsay Raymond (Danielle Ulacco, Elena Lupone) 54:01
Shots: E-32, W-6; Saves: E-Jessica Roberts 7 (70:00); W-Ashley Quinn 18 (70:00)

DANBURY, CT - Plymouth State University defeated Western Connecticut State University, 7-1 in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Saturday morning.
     The Panthers, now 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the Little East Conference, took a 1-0 advantage when Amanda Spadafora (Saratoga Springs, NY) netted her third goal of the season in the 13th minute of play.
     Two minutes later, PSU's Lilly Silva (Lowell, MA) scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season and the Panthers never looked back. Silva would go on to score her 12 goal with just over five minutes remaining in the contest.
     Jenna Lace (Pascoag, RI), Amanda Sherburn (Rumney, NH), Heidi Hand (Portsmouth, NH) and Heather Corrigan (West Hartford, CT) would each add a goal for the winners.
     WestConn got on the scoreboard in the 59th minute when Racheal Bolmer (Brookfield, CT) scored her second goal of the season.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 11 saves for the Colonials, now 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the LEC.
     Leah Curtin (Londonderry, NH) did not have to make a save for the Panthers as they held a 26-1 shot advantage in the game.
     WestConn travels to Eastern Connecticut this Tuesday, October 4 at 4 p.m.

DANBURY, CT - Westfield State College's Shannon Litterst (Falmouth, MA) scored three goals to lead the Owls to a 6-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Wednesday afternoon.
     After the Owls, now 2-6 overall and 2-3 in the Little East Conference, took a 1-0 advantage when Carolyn Insigne (Lindenhurst, NY) scored in the fourth minute of play
     Megan Wolski (Plymouth, MA) scored the first of her two goals at 13:11 to give Westfield State more than enough breathing room. She added her second marker of the afternoon eight minutes later for a 3-0 lead.
     Litterst scored the Owls final three goals including two tallies before intermission.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 10 saves for the Colonials, now 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the LEC.
     Cat Hanks (Somers, CT) made six saves for the Owls.
     WestConn hosts Plymouth State University this Saturday, October 1 at 9 AM.

DANBURY, CT - Keene State College's Nichole Garneau (Twin Mountain, NH) scored three goals to lead the Owls to a 4-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Sunday afternoon.
     After the Owls, now 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the Little East Conference, took a 1-0 advantage on a penalty shot from Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, NY) in the 21st minute of play
     Garneau then went on a tear, scoring three goals in a 19 minute span in the second half. Her first marker came off an assist from Amanada Rosenbeck (Wilder, VT) in the 50th minute.
     Eleven minutes later, she scored off a Keene State penalty corner set up by Rachel Ladd (Bridgewater, MA).
     With 50 seconds remaining in the game, Garneau added her third goal of the afternoon after a scramble in front of the Colonials' goal.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 15 saves for the Colonials, now 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the LEC.
     Sara Joyce (Hampstead, NH) and Jennifer McDougall (Avon, CT) were untested in goal for the Owls as their teammates out shot WestConn, 33-0 on the day. Keene State took 25 shots over the final 35 minutes of play.
     WestConn hosts Westfield State College this Wednesday, September 28 for a 3:30 p.m.

Bridgewater, MA – Senior forward Teresa Soderholm (Durham, NH) tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Bridgewater State College field hockey team to a 3-0 shutout victory over Western Connecticut State University in Little East Conference field hockey action this afternoon in Bridgewater.

Soderholm broke a scoreless tie with 18:50 remaining in the second half as she netted her first goal of the season. She later added an assist on sophomore Ashley Panzini’s (Saugus, MA) goal that capped off the Bears scoring for the day with just under five minutes left in the game. Junior forward Heather Eldredge (Barnstable, MA) also scored for the Bears who improve to 2-2 on the season and 2-1 in Little East play.

Bridgewater State sophomore Nicole Downs (Hanover, MA) recorded her second straight shutout in goal for the Bears. Western Connecticut junior keeper Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) tallied eight saves for the Colonials.

The Bears will look to make it three straight wins next Tuesday afternoon at 4PM as they host the Lions of Wheaton College. Western Connecticut is now off until Sunday, September 25th when they host the Owls of Keene State College at noon.

Goals by period 1st 2nd Total
Western Connecticut (1-3, 0-2) 0 0 0
Bridgewater State (2-2, 2-1) 0 3 3

First Half Scoring:
None
Second Half Scoring:
BSC: Teresa Soderholm (unassisted), 18:50 remaining
BSC: Heather Eldredge (unassisted), 15:35 remaining
BSC: Ashley Panzini (Soderholm), 4:40 remaining

Goalie Saves:
WCSU: Ashley Quinn, 8 saves
BSC: Nicole Downs, 0 saves

Shots:
WCSU: 1 shot
BSC: 17 shots

DANBURY, CT - Salem State College's Kristie Bartlett (Danvers, MA) broke away from the Western Connecticut State University defense and scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute in field hockey action at Westside Athletic Complex Sunday night.
     Bartlett took advantage of the wide open field as the teams were regulated to seven per side in the second overtime period.
     The Vikings, 1-2 and 1-0 in the Little East Conference, got on the scoreboard when Stephanie Currier (Rowley, MA) collected a deflection in front of the goal mouth and deposited the ball into the back of the net.
WestConn knotted the game at 1-1 when Ashley Lane (Woodbury, CT) finished off a penalty corner with her first goal of the season.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 12 saves for the Colonials, now 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the LEC.
     Christina Ferreira (Milford, MA) turned away seven shots for the Vikings.
     WestConn travels to Bridgewater State College next Saturday, September 17 for a 1 p.m. start.

BOSTON, MA - Western Connecticut State University defeated host Wheelock College, 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
     Amanda Hadgraft (Sandy Hook, CT) scored the Colonials first goal in the 16th minute and the goal stood as Wheelock could not mount a comeback.  It was the first goal scored by WestConn since 1991, the year it terminated the program.
     Cortney Romyns (Newton, NJ) assisted on the historic goal.
     Eleven minutes into the second half, Rachel Bolmer (Brookfield, CT) added an unassisted insurance goal for WestConn.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) earned the shutout after making three saves.
     Heather Murray made eight saves and faced 18 shots on the afternoon.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE BLANKS WESTCONN
IN FIELD HOCKEY'S RETURN

DANBURY, CT - Western Connecticut State University welcomed the return of field hockey after a 14-year hiatus. The celebration did not last long as New England College blanked the Colonials, 4-0 at Westside Athletic Complex Thursday afternoon.
     The Pilgrims, 1-0 and coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, were led by Jessica Hanson (Readfield, ME) as she tallied two goals.
     Hanson got NEC on the scoreboard 32:47 into the game off an assist from Stephanie Vaine (Winchendon, MA). They would take a 1-0 advantage into intermission.
     Within 3:20 of the second stanza, the Pilgrims' lead grew to 3-0 on back-to-back goals within a 41 second span.
     Jodie Dresser (Keene, NH) made it 2-0 with her first goal of the season.
     Hanson added her second marker on an unassisted goal at the 38:20 mark.
     New England added an insurance goal at 49:58 when Megan Simula (Newfound, NH) found the back of the goal.
     Jacqui Parker (Keene, NH) registered the shutout after making four saves for NEC.
     Ashley Quinn (Brewster, NY) made 17 saves for the Colonials, now 0-1.
     WestConn travels to Wheelock College this Saturday, September 3.