Nov. 4, 2004
SYRACUSE, N.Y.--At the annual Big East Field Hockey banquet on November 4, the conference honored its All-Conference selections. Villanova players Vanessa Pizzulli and Megan Foster earned first and second team honors, respectively.
"I am very pleased that Vanessa and Megan's accomplishments have been recognized by the Big East," said Villanova head coach Joanie Milhous.
Connecticut earned a total of seven All-Conference honors and added Offensive Player of the Year (Lauren Henderson) and Defensive Player of the Year (Abby Ostruska) honors. In addition, head coach Nancy Stevens earned her sixth Coach of the Year award for Connecticut's 5-0 record in conference play and 18-1 overall record. Betsy Wagner of Syracuse was unanimously selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year.
Pizzulli (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional), a senior back, earned First Team All-Big East honors for the second consecutive year. This season Pizzulli has anchored a defense that has posted four shutouts on the season. She has registered a team high four defensive saves, with three coming in one week. For her efforts in the Wildcats'6-1 victory over Monmouth and 3-1 victory over conference rival Syracuse as well as her defensive performance in the game versus Duke, Pizzulli was recognized as the Big East Defensive Player of the Week on October 11. In the 2-0 win over Cornell on October 29, Pizzulli tied the school record for career assists (32).
Foster (Berlin, N.J./Bishop Eustace), a sophomore forward, has exploded onto the offensive scene, posting team-highs in number of goals (18) and points (41). Foster was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week twice during the season: once on August 30 for her four-goal effort in the team's first two games, and again on October 11 for her one goal in the 6-1 win over Monmouth, two goals in the conference victory over No. 15 Syracuse (3-1) and the game-tying goal in the `Cats eventual loss to No. 4 Duke.
Villanova (11-7, 2-3), the number four seed, is gearing up for their Big East Championship semifinal contest against No. 6 Connecticut (18-1, 5-0). The teams play the first of two semifinal games on Friday, November 5 at 5 p.m. The second match, at 7 p.m., features second seeded Syracuse versus Boston College, which earned the third seed in the tournament.
The winners of the two semifinal games will vie for the conference championship on Sunday, November 7 at noon.
2004 Big East Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Lauren Henderson, Connecticut, Sr., F
Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Ostruska, Connecticut, Sr., B
Goalkeeper of the Year
Betsy Wagner, Connecticut, Sr., GK
Coach of the Year
Nancy Stevens, Connecticut
All-Big East First Team
Betsy Wagner, Syracuse, Sr., GK
Sabrina Lazzari, Boston College, Jr., F
Lauren Henderson, Connecticut, Sr., F
Laura Puddle, Connecticut, Jr., F/M
Kerri Doherty, Boston College, Sr., M
Becky Helwig, Connecticut, Jr., M
Joanne Lombard, Syracuse, Sr., M
Kristen Madden, Boston College, Jr., B
Bronwen Kelly, Boston College, Jr., B
Abby Ostruska, Connecticut, Sr., B
Vanessa Pizzulli, Villanova, Sr., B
All-Big East Second Team
Jillian Savoy, Boston College, Jr., GK
Sara York, Boston College, Jr., F
Melissa McGow, Providence, So., F/M
Brittany Carriero, Syracuse, Sr., F
Megan Foster, Villanova, So., F
Meg Hoffman, Connecticut, So., M/F
Lizzy Peijs, Connecticut, Fr., M
Lindsay Peirson, Syracuse, Sr., M
April Cornell, Connecticut, Sr., B
Lauren Sickel, Providence, So., B
Lindsay Kocher, Syracuse, Sr., B
