Complete Game Notes as a PDF

STARTING OFF THE SEASON
The Southern Connecticut State University field hockey team hosts a pair of nationally ranked squads as it opens the 2008 season this weekend. The Owls face No. 10 Mansfield on Friday at 1 p.m. and No. 4 Shippensburg on Saturday at noon. Last year, the Owls played 10 games against nationally ranked opponents in their 20 game slate.

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.

MOVING FORWARD
The Owls made a three-win improvement over their 2006 victory total in 2007. In addition, the club was also in the hunt for a Northeast-10 Tournament berth up until the final day of the regular season.

THE NUMBERS GAME
The Owls played 10 nationally ranked opponents during the course of the 2007 season - exactly half of the club's 20 game schedule. SCSU was 0-10 against nationally ranked teams in 2007 and 8-2 against teams that were not nationally ranked.

OWLS WELL-RECOGNIZED
Several individuals were recognized for their play during the 2007 season. Defender Kate Gedney earned All-America, All-ECAC and All-Northeast-10 honors, while Gedney and classmate Angela Cafarelli were both tabbed to play in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association North/South Senior All-Star Game. Junior Whitney Martin was selected for All-Northeast-10 laurels. The Owls were also well-recognized for their achievements in the classroom. As a team, the program earned National Academic Squad honors from the NFHCA. Individually, eight student-athletes were also selected for their academic accomplishments.

OFFENSE PICKED UP THE PACE
SCSU averaged 2.2 goals per game over the last 14 outings (31 goals) of the year. The Owls scored only five goals in the first six games of the season.

MARTIN WAS ON A ROLL
Junior Whitney Martin recorded 13 goals over the final 14 games of the year. She recorded three multiple-goal games on the year and posted a five-point effort (two goals, one assist) in the win over St. Michael's on Sept. 22. She ranked third in the Northeast-10 in both goals and points in 2007.

MERRITT PICKED A GOOD SPOT
Freshman Kim Merritt registered a career-high five points (two goals, one assist) in the win over Franklin Pierce. She also netted the game-winning goal in that contest.

ZARRELLA TOSSED A SHUTOUT
Freshman Lauren Zarrella recorded her first collegiate shutout in the win over Merrimack on Sept. 26. She followed that up with a blanking of AIC on Oct. 4.

MARTHA PROVIDED A HELPING HAND
Junior Grace Martha recorded eight points in the last 12 games of the regular season and led the club with six assists on the year.

OH SO CLOSE
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Zarrella came 38 seconds shy of a shutout in her first collegiate outing on Aug. 28. She finished with three saves in a 3-1 win over Franklin Pierce.

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 Sept. 2 for a home game against Franklin Pierce.