Hess Named 2005 BIG EAST Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Year
11/3/2005 9:24:30 PM | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- For the third time in four years, the BIG EAST Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Year has come out of Syracuse University. Freshman Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) was presented with the 2005 goalkeeper of the year award at the conference's annual awards banquet, held on the eve of the BIG EAST Championship. Hess also earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team, along with junior sweeper Michelle Sola (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley). Forwards Ashley Fry (Douglassville, Pa./Oley Valley) and Paige Sullivan (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) represented Syracuse on the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
"I want to thank my coaches and my teammates," Hess said up at the podium after accepting her award. "It's been a great freshman year."
Syracuse had the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year last season in Betsy Wagner, a second-team All-America, and in 2002 with first-team All-America Audrey Latsko.
Hess started in 18 of 19 game for SU this season. In conference games, she led all BIG EAST goalies in saves (39) and saves per game (7.80). Her 102 saves was second-best among league goalkeepers. The rookie showed her improvement throughout the season by posting two shutouts in the team's final four games of the regular season. Her 2.08 goals against average was second in the league and she was the only goalie to earn BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2005.
This was the second time in Sola's career that she received All-BIG EAST recognition. In 2003, she was a second-team selection. She earned a spot on the first team in 2005 by way of her strong presence in the SU backfield and, offensively, on penalty corners. Sola leads the team with two defensive saves. She is second on the squad in points (27) and goals (11). Sola was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10, following her two-goal performance in SU's win against Villanova. On Oct. 31, she was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. She scored her first career hat trick in a 5-1 win against Dartmouth in the final regular season game. All three goals came off penalty-corner strikes.
Sullivan and Fry each earned their first career BIG EAST honors from the league coaches. Sullivan leads the team in scoring for the second consecutive season. She tallied a team-best 13 goals and 28 points during the regular season, both career highs. Fry is just as dangerous inside the circle for the Orange with 10 goals and 24 points on the year.
Syracuse plays Villanova in the BIG EAST semifinals on Friday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. The game will take place at Rutgers University's Stadium Complex. If the Orange wins, it will play for its fourth BIG EAST Tournament title against either Connecticut or Louisville.
