UMass Dartmouth comes up with a pair of late season wins to clinch #7 seed in Little East Conference Tourney

(Dartmouth, MA) – Heading into the final week of the 2002 regular season, UMass Dartmouth needed a pair of Little East Conference victories to qualify for the LEC Tournament.

The Corsairs came up with two wins in their final three LEC games to clinch the seventh and final spot in the LEC Tournament field, marking the third LEC Tournament appearance by Coach Marilyn Ritz’s Corsiars in the last four years. A 5-0 loss to #2 Keene State in the tournament ended UMass Dartmouth’s field hockey season with a 5-14 overall record and a 4-6 regular season record in the LEC.

When they need it most UMass Dartmouth came up with two big wins at the end of the regular season. The first was a 2-1 sudden-death victory at Eastern Connecticut State University on Oct. 22. Trailing, 1-0, late in the second half, Robin Dziedzic’s (Palmer, MA) goal from Jackie Briggs (Hingham, MA) sent the game into sudden death. With 8:34 remaining, Amy Day (So. Berwick. ME) scored the game-winner from Alex Wildes (Carver, MA) to give the Corsairs a 2-1 win. The Corsairs’ second big win was a 2-0 victory at Salem State in the regular season finale. First-half goals by Erin Dziedzic (Palmer, MA) and Wildes was all goalie Meaghan Apostolec (Plymouth, MA) need to post the shutout victory and clinch the 7th seed in the LEC Tournament.

At season’s end, UMass Dartmouth had a pair of players honored by the Little East Conference. First year player Robin Dziedzic was named the LEC Rookie of the Year and her sister, Erin, was an LEC Second Team All-Star. A two-time LEC Rookie of the Week, Robin Dziedzic led the Corsairs with a team-high five goals plus four assists for 14 points (16th in the LEC). Erin Dziedzic finished third in team scoring with a pair of goals plus four assists for eight points.

Rounding out the Corsair scoring leaders for 2002 were Wendy Crowther (Dartmouth, MA), who placed second with three goals and three assists for nine points. Leah Segrin (Holden, MA) and Wildes tied for fourth with three goals for six points each. Briggs and Jennifer Davis (Westford, MA) each had a pair of goals and an assist to finish with five points each. In goal, Apostolec and Aimee Arsenian (Rockport, MA) shared the netminding duties. Apostolec finished 10th in LEC goals against average with a 2.29 GAA, including one shutout and a 5-8 won loss record. Arsenian had a 3.71 GAA and was 0-6 overall.

Several Corsair field hockey players received post season honors for their work on both the field hockey field and the classroom. Erin Dziedzic was selected as UMass Dartmouth’s female ECAC Robbins Scholar Athlete nominee. She was one of the Corsairs’ top defensive players throughout her career, named LEC Rookie of the Year in 1999 and a Second Team LEC All-Star in 2002. She was an Art History Major with an overall GPA of 3.501, twice earning Chancellor List designation Dean’s List for five semesters.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association named eight Corsair field hockey players to its 2002 National Academic Squad. Among those honored for their academic accomplishments during the season were Arsenian, Alisha Carson (Worcester, MA), Davis, Erin Dziedzic, Robin Dziedzic, Lauren Izzicupo (Stoneham, MA), Tracy Olearczyk (Three River, MA) and Theresa Souza (Taunton, MA).