Field Hockey sweeps Big East honors

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Gonzalez was a member of Team USA at the 2008 Pan American Junior Championships in Mexico City.

University of Connecticut sophomore Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week, and junior goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero (Emmaus, Pa.) was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 19, conference officials announced today. [Oct. 20].

The Huskies swept the conference weekly honors following a 2-0 stretch that saw them post back-to-back shutouts.

UConn opened the week with a 3-0 blanking of Northeastern at home, before following up with a 1-0 road win at No. 1 Syracuse, handing the Orange their first loss this season.

Gonzalez claimed her first career Big East Offensive Player of the Week award following a stretch that saw her open play as a member of Team USA at the 2008 Pan American Junior Championships in Mexico City. She scored 4 goals while leading the USA entry to a 4-0-1 record and a gold medal.

The sophomore closed out the week by returning to the Huskies in time to score the game-winning goal in UConn’s 1-0 victory at No.1 Syracuse on Oct. 18.

Mainiero was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career. after posting two shutouts, to increase her season total to five.

Mainiero made a total of 7 saves over the two games, including a critical 6 in UConn’s 1-0 win at No. 1 Syracuse.

UConn has garnered a total of three Big East weekly honors this season; senior Jennifer Kleinhans (Mannheim, Germany) was previously recognized this season.

The No. 9 Huskies, 13-1 overall this season, will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 22 when they travel to face Boston University.

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/sports/uconn-field_hockey_big_east_honors.html