Game Notes as PDF

A TOUGH WEEK AHEAD
Three games in five days are up on the docket for the Southern Connecticut State University field hockey team this week. The Owls have won three in a row coming into the week, including back-to-back overtime wins over nationally ranked Stonehill and St. Michael's squads. SCSU hosts Assumption on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. before traveling to No. 6 nationally ranked Bentley on Thursday at 7 and No. 4 nationally ranked UMass-Lowell on Saturday at 1 p.m.

BACK IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Owls jumped back into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll this week at the No. 8 position. Earlier this year, the Owls checked into the poll at No. 10 for one week before falling out.

OWLS ALREADY SURPASS LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Owls have already surpassed last year's win total.

THREE EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Seniors Molly Daniels and Whitney Martin and sophomore Lauren Zarrella were all named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll for their play in the Owls' sweep last week.

CARDIAC KIDS
Southern Connecticut has won its first three overtime decisions so far this year - each by 2-1 finals - as well as a win over Stonehill on Sept. 10 that was decided on a winning goal off a penalty corner after time had expired in regulation.

'PLAY 4 THE CURE' EVENT A ROUSING SUCCESS
The largest crowd of the year was on hand on Oct. 4 at Jess Dow Field as the field hockey team hosted its 'Play 4 The Cure' event. The team colored their hair pink after the contest and took care of business on the field with a 3-1 victory.

OWLS IN THE NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
After entering the NCAA North region rankings at No. 2 last week, the Owls dropped two spots to No. 4 in last week's poll. The rankings are used to determine NCAA participants from each region. The top three teams move on to compete in the NCAA Tournament.

PAIR OF OWLS EARN NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS
Sophomores Erin Paduda and Sara Winterbottom were both named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll on Oct. 6. Winterbottom scored single goals in each of the Owls' two games, while Paduda broke out for a career-high four points (one goal, two assists) in the win over St. Anselm.

SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Owls rank second in the Northeast-10 in scoring at 2.74 goals per game.

OWLS EARN NATIONAL RANKING
Thanks to a pair of wins over nationally ranked St. Michael's and Stonehill squads, the Owls entered the national polls at No. 10 on Sept. 17.

MARTIN NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After leading the Owls with seven points (three goals, one assist) in two games against St. Michael's and Stonehill , senior captain Whitney Martin was selected as the National Player of the Week by www.womensfieldhockey.com. Martin scored once in the win over Stonehill and followed that up with a five-point day (two goals, one assist) in the victory over St. Michael's.

OWLS WELL-RECOGNIZED BY NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference also took notice of the Owls' strong play against St. Michael's and Stonehill. Sophomore goalie Lauren Zarrella was selected as the Goalie of the Week, while Martin, Grace Martha and Sara Winterbottom were all named to the weekly honor roll.

MARTHA HAS A CAREER DAY
Senior captain Grace Martha broke out for a career-high six points (two goals, two assists) in the win over St. Michael's. She figured in on all four Owls' goals in the contest. Martha set new personal career-highs in goals and points in the game.

THE SAME GOES FOR ZARRELLA
Sophomore Lauren Zarrella set a new career-high with 16 saves in the win over St. Michael's. Zarrella easily eclipsed her old personal mark of 10 saves, set last year against Bryant.

FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
Offense hasn't been an issue for the Owls this season The team has scored at least two goals in 13 of its first 15 games, and has tallied five goals on three occasions.

WINTERBOTTOM PROVING A NICE ADDITION
Sophomore Sara Winterbottom has been a steady contributor to the Owls' offensive cause in the early going this year. To date, she leads the team in goals with 11 and is second in points with 23.

RETURNING A STRONG CORE
SCSU will have some veteran experience this year with 12 returning players from last year's team.

WELCOME ABOARD
The Owls seven new players to this year's team including sophomores Sara Winterbottom and Erin Paduda and freshmen Tricia Mehm, Ryan Morgan, Inga Stonga, Aleida Mapes and Brittany Barra.

IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL
The Owls were ranked sixth in this year's Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll.

THE CAPTAINS
Seniors Grace Martha and Whitney Martin, along with sophomore Ann Berry, will captain the Owls this fall.

HEAD COACH KELLEY FRASSINELLI
A former All-American player at SCSU, Kelley Frassinelli is in her 14th season as head coach of the Owls' field hockey squad. She has taken the Owls program to new heights during her first 13 years at the helm of her alma mater, highlighted by a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004.

ON DECK
The Owls return to action on Oct. 22 for a home game against AIC. It will be Senior Night for the Owls at Jess Dow Field.