Kristin Aronowicz Tabbed BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
11/3/2001 2:05:36 PM | Field Hockey
Four Syracuse field hockey players earned honors from the BIG EAST at the conference's annual awards banquet Friday night at the Needham Sheraton Hotel. Head coach Kathleen Parker was unanimously voted as the league's Coach of the Year, while junior midfielder Kristin Aronowicz (Exton, Pa./Downingtown) was selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year.
This is Parker's fourth coach of the year award, her first since 1995. She was the unanimous choice after guiding SU to a 13-3 overall record during the regular season. Under Parker's tutelage, the Orangewomen went undefeated in BIG EAST play. Their 5-0 conference record was Syracuse's best since round robin play began in 1993. Parker is the only BIG EAST coach to appear in all 13 league championships. In the latest STX/NFHCA poll, SU was ranked No. 18.
Kristin Aronowicz became just the third Orangewoman to take home player of the year honors. In 1994, Julie Williamson won the award, followed by Jodi Carter in 1995. Aronowicz led Syracuse in goals (15) and points (32) as the Orangewomen captured the regular season title. Her goal total was tied for first in the league with Connecticut's Lauren Henderson. Contributing to her 15 goals, were two hat tricks in victories against Quinnipiac and Cornell. The junior ranks ninth on SU's all-time scoring list (71 career points, 31 goals). In the latest national statistics, she ranked 13th in points, sixth in points per game, fifth in goals and fifth in goals per game.
In addition to offensive player of the year honors, Aronowicz headlined the All-BIG EAST First Team. It is her second consecutive season earning first-team laurels. In 1999, she was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
Joining Aronowicz on the All-BIG EAST First Team was her older sister, Michelle. A senior forward, Michelle Aronowicz (Exton, Pa./Downingtown) was voted to the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2000. This is her first appearance on the first team. Michelle Aronowicz is Syracuse's second-leading scorer with 23 points. She leads the squad with 11 assists, which is also a career high.
Senior co-captain Becky Kohler (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) made her first appearance on the All-BIG EAST First Team. In the spring of 2001, Kohler switched positions from forward to defense because that is where the Orangewomen needed her. She quickly mastered the position and helped lead the Syracuse defense to the lowest goals against average (1.27) in the league this season.
Earning second-team All-BIG EAST honors was junior midfielder Michelle Marks (Lititz, Pa./Warwick). It was the first conference award for Marks, who is now in her third season as a starter for the Orangewomen. A consistent playmaker, Marks is tied for fourth on the team in scoring with eight points (two goals, four assists).
