UMass Dartmouth will use experience to make its move in the Little East Conference

(Dartmouth, MA)-- After two seasons of working with a young and inexperienced team, UMass Dartmouth field hockey coach Marilyn Ritz thinks her Corsairs are ready to reap the benefits of experience this season. With 9 returning starters back from last year�s 9-9 squad and a total of 16 returning players on the roster, UMass Dartmouth enters the 2000 with high hopes of moving up in the Little East Conference standings.

"We�ve had a young team the last two seasons and we hope the experience will pay off with a number of returning starters who are now juniors and seniors," said Ritz, who is entering her 17th season with the Corsairs' field hockey team. "Early in the season we will look to our defensive unit since that is where most of our experience is going to be."

Four of the Corsairs' returning starters are on defense led by sophomore Erin Dziedzic (Palmer, MA) (2 goals-1assist-5 points) last season's Little East Conference Rookie of the Year and junior Leigh-Ann Wiseman (Demarest, NJ). UMass Dartmouth will be solid at the sweeper position with the return of senior co-captain Sarah Tuxbury (Sudbury, MA), the Corsairs� lone Little East Conference First Team All Star last season and junior Jennifer Burrows (Hubbardston, MA), a two-year starter in goal.

The return of midfielders Jen McGuinness (E. Taunton, MA) (1-2-4), a senior co-captain, and junior Jaclyn Michalos (Norwood, MA) (0-1-1) ensures that UMass Dartmouth�s defensive unit will be the backbone of the team during the 2000 season. Ritz also said newcomer Amanda Panek (Foxboro, MA), a junior transfer student from Ohio State, will add to the Corsairs� depth at midfield. Returning players sophomores Grace Cimo (Medfield, MA), Elizabeth Falabella (Pepperell, MA) and junior Deanna White (Essex, MA) also give the Corsairs both experience and depth at midfield this season.

The final line of defense for UMass Dartmouth will again be Burrows, a former LEC Rookie of the Year and an LEC All-Tournament selection last year. In 18 games in goal as a sophomore in 1999, Burrows had a 1.15 goals against average and posted 4.5 shutouts with a 9-9 won-loss record.

"We�ve also added more depth and strength at the forward position with five returning players," said Ritz, who will be joined by assistant coaches Joan Allison and Mary Heitzman.

Leading the Corsairs' offensive unit, which includes 5 of UMass Dartmouth�s top 6 scorers from 1999, will be senior co-captain Erin McDonald (Greenfield, MA), the Corsairs� top returning scorer with 4 goals and an assist for 9 points. She will be joined by senior co-captain Sandra Methe (Whitinsville, MA), along with sophomores Jennifer Davis (Westford, MA) (1-3-4), Jacquelyn Briggs (Hingham, MA) (2-0-4) and Jinneane Sperrazza (Mansfield, MA) (3-0-6). Junior Kristen Green (Medfield, MA) spent most of her time at midfield a year ago, but Ritz said she might me moved to the forward line this season.

While the Corsairs are already deep at the forward position, Ritz has three first-year players who may get some playing time as well. Kaitlin Columbare (Mansfield, MA), Wendy Crowther (Dartmouth, MA) and Nichole Stearns (Mansfield, MA) could make some contributions on offense during the season Ritz said. Defensively, first-year players Rachel Heenan (Medway, MA), Laurie Lusas (Melrose, MA), Jessica Roberts (Uxbridge, MA) and Kerin Rousseau (Worcester, MA) will be trying to crack the starting lineup. In addition to Burrows and last year� back-up sophomore Susan Peckham (Orange, CT), UMass Dartmouth has a pair of first-year goalies in Meaghan Apostolec (Plymouth, MA) and Annette Niemczyk (Blackstone, MA).

With a newly aligned Little East Conference in place for this season, there will be lots of competition for post-season tournament invitations. The LEC has joined forces with the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to form an 11-team league, which will play under the LEC banner. At stake for the LEC champion is an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national championship tournament. Seven teams will qualify for the LEC Tournament with the LEC championship game set for Oct. 28.

In the Little East Conference coaches' pre-season poll, UMass Dartmouth was picked to finish 6th overall in the 11-team league. Two-time defending champion Keene State was the clear favorite of the coaches, earning 127 total points and 8.5 of 11 possible first-place votes. Rounding out the top seven are Southern Maine (102 pts), Plymouth State (98), Westfield State (79), Fitchburg State (72), UMass Dartmouth (60) and Salem State (58).

After opening with a 3-1 win over Elms College on Sept. 9, the Corsairs will get a pair of stiff challenges from non-conference opponents Wheaton College on Sept. 12 and Wellesely College on Sept. 14 before opening LEC play at Plymouth State on Sept. 16 at 1:00 p.m. The Corsairs open LEC play at home when they entertain Worcester State in a 4:00 p.m. start on Sept. 19.