Valorz and Saucier lead UMass Dartmouth to third NEWLA playoff berth in four seasons

(Dartmouth, MA) -- For the third time in its first four varsity seasons, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's lacrosse team earned a trip into the New England Women's Lacrosse Association's post season. The 2001 season produced a 10-7 overall record for Coach Jerry Jennings' Corsairs and a 4-2 mark in the NEWLA Southern Division good for third place and a playoff berth.

UMass Dartmouth's success can be attributed to a pair of outstanding individual performances during the season from senior goalie Denise Saucier (Uxbridge, MA) and junior attack Emily Valorz (Milton, MA).

Saucier wrapped up her career at UMass Dartmouth by being named to the New England Women's Lacrosse All-Alliance team and was a 2001 ECAC Division III New England Women's Lacrosse All-Star Second Team selection.

After missing last season due to an academic commitment, Saucier returned to the team and turned in an outstanding season for the Corsairs. In 16 games as the Corsairs' goalie, Saucier came up with 166 saves, an average of 5.4 per game, and a 6.00 goals against average. Saucier recorded a .659 saves percentage and recorded one shutout. Her 5.70 goals against average was a full goal better than the second-ranked goalie in the NEWLA this season. She also led all NEWLA goalies in saves percentage as well (.675 in 15 games), more than 100 percentage points better than the next goalie in line. Saucier was named to both the 2001 NEWLA Women's Lacrosse All-Alliance Team and the NEWLA All-Southern Division team for her efforts.

Valorz joined Saucier as the Corsairs' only two representatives on the 2001 NEWLA All-Southern Division team. Valorz was recognized following a season of prolific scoring for the Corsairs, finishing sixth in the NEWLA scoring race with a team-leading 52 goals and 13 assists for 65 points. In 17 games for the Corsairs, Valorz took a team-high 150 shots on goal and averaged 3.1 goals and almost an assist per game.

Valorz's best offensive effort was 7-point performance (6 goals, 1 assist) in a 14-4 Corsair win over Western Connecticut State in NEWLA competition. Valorz also scored another 5 goals in a 14-3 non-league victory over the University of Southern Maine. On 7 other occasions, including the Corsairs' NEWLA playoff game against Eastern Connecticut State, Valorz tallied 4 goals in a game for UMass Dartmouth.

While Valorz was leading the Corsairs' offensive attack most of the season, she wasn't the Corsairs only offensive threat. Senior defender Aimee Williams (Centerville, MA) was second in scoring for UMass Dartmouth with 22 goals and 16 assists for 38 points. Among the Corsairs' other top scorers for the 2001 season were senior attack Karyn Besegai (Plymouth, MA) (21-13-14), senior midfielder and co-captain Jess Delaney (Winchester, MA) (22-10-32) and junior midfielder/defender Cara Hart (Lawrence, MA) (17-10-27).

In the postseason, the Corsairs fell one goal short in their New England Women's Lacrosse Southern Division quarterfinal round game on May 2, dropping a 10-9 decision to #2 Eastern Connecticut State University.