Complete Game Notes as a PDF

A NEW SEASON BEGINS
The No. 14 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University softball team will begin the 2013 season in Clermont, Fla. for nine games. The Owls will compete against Dowling and Dominican in doubleheaders, along with single games against Young Harris College, Georgian Court, West Chester and Mercy.

ALL-TIME AGAINST DOWLING
Dowling holds a 15-9 all-time series lead the Owls. SCSU swept a doubleheader last season in Florida.

ALL-TIME AGAINST DOMINCAN
SCSU leads the all-time series by an 8-3 margin. The Owls swept last year's doubleheader on the road against the Chargers.  

ALL-TIME AGAINST YOUNG HARRIS
The Owls will compete against the Mountain Lions of Young Harris College for the first time.

ALL-TIME AGAINST GEORGIAN COURT
The all-time series between the two schools is tied at 4-4. The clubs split a doubleheader at GCU last year.

ALL-TIME AGAINST GRAND VALLEY STATE
The Owls will face Grand Valley State University for the first time in school history.

ALL-TIME AGAINST WEST CHESTER
Southern Connecticut leads the all-time series, 1-0, against West Chester. This will be the first meeting since 1995. 

ALL-TIME AGAINST MERCY
The Owls won the only meeting in school history against Mercy, 10-1, in 2008.

IN THE PRESEASON NFCA POLL
Coming off a record-setting 2012 campaign that culminated in the program's first-ever appearance and victory at the College World Series, Southern Connecticut was selected No. 5 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association 2013 preseason poll. It's the highest ranking in school history for the Owls, who checked in at No. 6 in the final NFCA poll of 2012.

IN THE CURRENT NFCA POLL
The softball team comes in at No. 14 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 poll.

THE CAPTAINS
The captains for this upcoming season will be seniors Brittany Bucko, Alyssa Downs, Kristin Whitley and Stacy Pouliot.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB
The Owls added seven new members to the roster this season - junior transfer Kaley Marden along with six freshmen - Audrey Dolloff, Yesenia Evaristo, Brooke Franco, Jessica Van Alphen, Kelly Wicks and Emily Wirsing.

IN THE NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
Southern Connecticut has been selected to win the Northeast-10 Conference's Southwest Division, as voted on by the league's coaches.

OWLS MAKING HISTORY
It was a record-breaking season on several fronts for the Owls as a team in 2012.
• After two consecutive trips to the regional final, the Owls advanced to the Super Regionals and College World Series for the first time in school history.
• Southern Connecticut also set a new school record with 43 victories in the process.

EVERYONE'S ALL-AMERICANS
Teammates Brittany Bucko and Alyssa Downs were named Daktronics All-Americans during the 2012 season. Bucko also earned All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

THREE EARN ACADEMIC HONORS
Three Owls - Brittany Bucko, Kristin Whitley and Stacy Pouliot - earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America for their work in the classroom and on the field last spring. In addition, Bucko (First-Team) and Whitley (Third-Team) were officially named Academic All-Americans.

QUINTET COLLECTS NFCA ALL-REGION HONORS
Five members of the squad earned NFCA All-Region honors, as voted on by the region's coaches. Brittany Bucko and Alyssa Downs were tabbed for the First-Team. Jayme Larson, Jessica Rosa and Kate Hoffman were named to the Second-Team.

FOUR EARN DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION HONORS; BUCKO NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Four members of the squad earned Daktronics All-Region honors, as voted on by the region's Sports Information Directors. Brittany Bucko was selected as the regional Player of the Year and a First-Team honoree. Fellow classmate Alyssa Downs was also tabbed for the First-Team. Jayme Larson and Kate Hoffman were named to the Second-Team.

OWLS RAKE IN YEAR END HONORS
Eight members of the team were named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference teams. Senior Jayme Larson, juniors Brittany Bucko, Stacy Pouliot, Alyssa Downs and Kristin Whitley were all selected to the First-Team. Junior Kate Hoffman was a Second-Team honoree. Senior Jessica Rosa and freshman Kelsey Cockrill were each honored on the Third-Team. Cockrill was also tabbed for the league's All-Rookie Team. Head coach Lisa Barbaro was named Coach of the Year. Bucko was also tabbed as the league's Player of the Year.

KEEP THEM OFF THE SCOREBOARD
Southern Connecticut won 32 of 33 games last year when holding its opponent to two runs or less. The only loss came to LeMoyne (2-1) in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.

LARSON STANDS ALONE
Jayme Larson shattered her own single-season mark for victories in a campaign with 26 for the Owls. The old record was 21.

ALL-TIME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The 2012 trip was the sixth NCAA appearance in program history (2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). The Owls are 11-13 all-time in NCAA Tournament action, with all 11 victories coming over the past three years.

POULIOT MAKES NE-10 ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Junior catcher Stacy Pouliot was named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Tournament Team. Pouliot batted .364 (4-for-11) in the Owls' three games in the tournament. She also did not commit an error behind the plate and threw out one of two baserunners attempting to steal.

COACH BARBARO GRABS 250th WIN
With the win over Stonehill in the NE-10 quarterfinals, head coach Lisa Barbaro won her 250th career game at the helm of the Owls.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
The Owls first place finish in the Northeast-10 Conference marks the first time in school history that they have claimed the conference regular season title.

ON DECK
After returing from Florida, the Owls will face Post in a doubleheader on March 12 at Pelz Field begining at 2:30 p.m.