UConn is a stand-out in Big East Women’s Soccer Postseason Awards

Labbe wins Big East First Team and Goalkeeper of the Year Honors

The University of Connecticut women's soccer team received five postseason awards Thursday [Nov. 6] during the BIG EAST Tournament banquet, held the night before the semifinal games take place.

Senior Stephanie Labbe was named to the BIG EAST First Team, senior Brittany Tegeler and sophomore Kacey Richards garnered BIG EAST Second Team honors, and junior Annie Yi made the BIG EAST Third Team.

Labbe was also named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year.

“I think the awards received tonight show that although we are having a tough time this year, our players are still playing consistently and the other coaches in the league recognize that,” said Head Coach Len Tsantiris.

Labbe's performance this season earned her the title of Goalkeeper of the Year after she recorded a 1.03 GAA and 96 games over 1,827 minutes in goal.

Labbe is the second Husky to receive the award and the first since 2002, when Maria Yatrakis earned that honor. She tallied six shutouts over 20 games, including five in 11 league contests.

Labbe had the highest save percentage in the BIG EAST at .877.

Entering the semifinal match, Labbe has only allowed four goals in the last six games.

Richards was one of the most consistent players for the Huskies this season. Like Labbe, she missed only one game on the season and made 19 starts in 19 games, and played 1,814 minutes for the Huskies in the midfield.

She only tallied three points on the season, but all came in BIG EAST play. She got her first point of the season on an assist against DePaul, adding her first goal of the season against Syracuse.

“Kacey is one of the most consistent players on our team this season,” said Tsantiris. “She was out there all game for every game we played.”

Tegeler came up clutch for the Huskies when they needed it the most in BIG EAST play.

She scored the only two goals for the Huskies in their game against Pittsburgh, setting UConn off on a three-game unbeaten streak, their longest of the season.

She scored the only goal of the game for the Huskies in their tie against St. John's, allowing UConn to remain in third place in the Atlantic Division and get a bye during the first round of the tournament. Tegeler, with five goals, is tied for first place with Yi in goals scored.

Yi led the team in game-winning goals with three, after she scored the game-winner against Georgetown -- moving the Huskies back to the Semifinal Round for the first time since 2005.

“Brittany and Annie have both come up big for us when we needed them the most,” said Tsantiris. “They made some big time goals that have helped us to get to where we are right now.”

Posted Nov. 6, 2008