Field hockey 2004 season preview

First-year coach Jen Burrows hopes to move
UMass Dartmouth field hockey in new direction

(Dartmouth, MA) – In her first season as head field hockey coach at UMass Dartmouth, Jen Burrows
has seven returning starters back from a team which didn’t win a game last season.  Burrows is confident
that the veterans and new players in the program are willing to do whatever it takes to turn the program around.

“This year’s team is very high energy and cohesive,” said Burrows, a UMass Dartmouth assistant lacrosse

coach last season and former Corsair student-athlete.  “I know we will improve our record from last year and

have a great time doing it. I am looking forward to what this season will bring,”

The Corsairs will lean heavily on the experienced leadership of senior co-captains Leah Segrin (Holden, MA)

and Lauren Izzicupo (Stoneham, MA).  According to Burrows, Segrin in a born leader who will be a key player

on the Corsairs’ defensive unit, while Izzicupo will start at midfield and be a important part of the UMass

Dartmouth offense.

The Corsairs need their returning starters to get off to a good start in 2004.  As a group they all have previous

starting experience from last season and should be able to avoid mistakes on the field.  Junior Beth Enko

(Orange, MA) started most of the 2003 season at center forward and has a great shot.  Junior Karlie Grudner

(Oxford, NY) was a starter at right forward last year and the team’s leading scorer.  Junior Lauren Mannarino

(Mansfield, MA) is back after starting at left midfield for the Corsairs.  Sophomore Jessica Peixoto (Dartmouth, MA)

has great ball control sills and will take charge as center midfield, while junior Caitlin Nottebart (Walpole, MA) is

an experienced returning player on defense.

Sophomore Sara Fitta (Fall River, MA) was a Corsair starter at sweeper last season, but Burrows has moved her to

midfield in 2004.  Burrows said Fitta’s ball-control skills were one of the reasons for the move, which should allow

Fitta to move up and down the field with ease.

“We have really worked hard in training and double sessions,” said Burrows, who will be teamed with assistant coach

and a former Corsair field hockey captain Deanne White.  “We did everything from watching movies and stretching to

swimming in the pool to sweating off a few points training in the muggy summer weather.

One of the bright spots for Burrows and UMass Dartmouth in the 2004 season will be the appearance of five new

players on the roster.  Burrows said she has been very impressed by the talent of several of the newcomers and expects

some of them to make a contribution right away.

Kaitlyn Koza (Bellingham, MA) is a first-year goalie who Burrows hopes can be a key player for the UMass Dartmouth

defense.  Courtney Pare (Assonet, MA) has demonstrated a nice scoring touch, while Erin Lanagan (Townsend, MA) has

shown the coaching staff an ability to help the team in several areas.  Caitlin DiCecca (Chelmsford, MA), who scored the

Corsairs' only goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to Elms College in the season opener on Sept. 11, has great speed and the ability

to get off her shot in traffic.  Burrows said DiCecca could be among the Corsiars' top scorers this season.

Based on last season’s campaign, the Corsairs were picked 11^th in the LEC Coaches’ pre-season poll.  So for Burrows and

her new team, the 2004 season is filled with opportunities to move up the LEC standings. 

After a series of challenge non-conference games with Clark University and Wheaton College, the Corsairs will begin LEC

action on Sept. 18 at Plymouth State University.