University of Massachusets Athletics
Letourneau and O'Brien Named to the 2007 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region
November 14, 2007 | Field Hockey
Nov. 14, 2007
AMHERST, MASS. - Senior Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.) and Senior Erin O'Brien (Annandale, Va.) were named to the 2007 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region as voted on by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Senior Kristina DoRosario (Oakville, Ontario) and sophomore Cher King (Christ Church, Barbados) were named Second Team Northeast Region. UMass field hockey experienced their most successful season since 2000. The 2007-08 season came to an end for the Minutewomen last Saturday when UMass (14-9, 6-1 A-10) fell to #4 Connecticut (21-2, 5-1 Big East), 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Goalkeeper Becky Letourneau ended the season with a 10-7 record. Letourneau ranks sixth in country in goals against average (1.05) and ranks first in the A-10 in goals against average and shutouts with seven on the season. During the regular season, Letourneau went 6-1 in conference place and only allowed two goals in A-10 play. Letourneau was named UMass/Dinn Bros. Co-Athlete of the Week and was also named Honorable Mention National Player of the Week by WomensFieldHockey.com for the week of 10/22.
Back Erin O'Brien was named a 2007 Senior All-Star by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and was also named First Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second straight season. O'Brien was the leader of the top defense in the A-10, ranking first in goals against average (0.95), shots allowed (8.0 per game), and shutouts (9). During the 2007 season, O'Brien played every minute of every game and started in every game.
Back Kristina DoRosario was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Tournament after helping lead UMass to its first title in six years. DoRosario was also named First Team All-Conference by the Atlantic 10. In the semifinal win over Richmond, DoRosario assisted on both UMass goals. DoRosario was also the Minutewomen's leader on defense throughout the tournament shutting down both Richmond and Saint Joseph's leading scorers. DoRosario started every game of her UMass career.
Forward Cher King was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 and named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team. King led the Minutewomen in goals (8), points (19), and shots (63) on the season. King scored a goal in the first round of the A-10 Tournament in a 2-1 win over Richmond. At the Atlantic 10 Championship game, King made a defensive save in UMass' one-goal win against St. Joseph's. King started and played in every game this season.
This season, the Minutewomen were lead by first year head coach Justine Sowry. The Minutewomen also won their first Atlantic 10 Championship since 2001 before defeating #17 Princeton in a NCAA play-in game. That was the club's first win over a ranked opponent since 2000. The team won eight more games than it did a season ago, the program's biggest increase over the previous year since 1995-96, all while possessing a defense that ranked at the top of the A-10 and among the best nationally.
