MISSION STATEMENT
PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers field hockey team has been picked to finish sixth in the 2003 BIG EAST Conference Field Hockey preseason poll, the league office announced today.
The Scarlet Knights, who finished 3-16 last year and 0-5 in BIG EAST play, received seven points in the poll, tying with Providence for sixth place. Boston College, with preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kim French, received 23 points, as did Connecticut, the defending conference champions.
RU return nine starters under first-year head coach Liz Tchou, including seniors Leann Grondski (Mercerville, NJ), Kamilah Lalani (West Vancouver, BC), Colleen Maniere (Princeton Junction, NJ) and Jennifer Noon (Shaverton, PA). Combined, the four accounted for almost 80 percent of the scoring in 2002, collecting 15 goals.
Rutgers begins its 2003 season at the Blue Hen Classic in Newark, DE. The Scarlet Knights take on West Chester on Saturday, August 30 followed by Delaware on Sunday, August 31. RU’s home-opener is on Saturday, September 6 against Columbia.
| 2003 FIELD HOCKEY PRESEASON POLL | |||||
| 2002 Record | 2002 Finish | ||||
| Points | BIG EAST | Overall | Regular Season | ||
| 1. | Boston College (3) | 23 | 3-2-0 | 15-6-0 | 3rd |
| Connecticut (3) | 23 | 5-0-0 | 15-8-0 | 1st | |
| 3. | Villanova | 16 | 4-1-0 | 11-9-0 | 2nd |
| 4. | Syracuse | 14 | 2-3-0 | 10-11-0 | 4th |
| 5. | Providence | 7 | 1-4-0 | 8-12-0 | 5th |
| Rutgers | 7 | 0-5-0 | 3-16-0 | 6th | |
2003 BIG EAST Preseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Kim French (Boston College)
Defensive Player of the Year: Maureen Butler (Connecticut)
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team: Virginia Drozd (Sr., M/B, Boston College); Kim French (Sr., F, Boston College); Becky Helwig (So., M, Connecticut); Lauren Hill (Sr., GK, Boston College); Bronwen Kelly (So., M/B, Boston College); Kristen Madden (So., B, Boston College); Maureen Butler (Sr., GK, Connecticut); Lauren Henderson (Jr., F, Connecticut); Stefanie Suehnholz (sr. M/D, Providence); Christa Lugones (Sr., F, Villanova); Vanessa Pizzulli (Jr., B, Villanova)
