Nov 12, 2007

3 Southern Maine players earn NFHCA All-Region honors

GORHAM, Maine -- Three members of the University of Southern Maine Huskies field hockey team have earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-New England West honors. Senior sweeper back Justene Dorr (Cherry Hill, N.J./Kimball Union) and sophomore goalkeeper Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) each earned second team honors, while sophomore midfielder Cristina Corson (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) was named to the first team.

“I am excited for all three of these student-athletes,” commented USM head coach Bonny Brown-Denico. “Cristina, Allison and Justene are all very deserving of this recognition. They were leaders on and off of the field for us and were vital to our team’s success this season. Each of these student-athletes performed to the top of their ability in practices and in games and possessed the necessary desire and commitment to earn their award.”

Earning the first such honor of her career, Corson led the Huskies in assists during her sophomore campaign passing off eight helpers during the season to compliment three goals for 14 points. Corson’s eight assists ties her for third place in the USM single season record books with Renee Heath ’04. Among Corson’s three goals, she tallied one game-winner to lift Southern Maine to a 3-2 double-overtime victory against Little East Conference foe Framingham State College. In two seasons, Corson has tallied five goals and eight assists for 18 points.

Corson is the first Southern Maine field hockey player to earn first team All-NFHCA New England Regional honors since Heath and Jessie Superchi each received the accolade in 2003.

Dorr, who recently earned first team All-Little East Conference honors, led the Huskies defensively in 2007. From her sweeper back position, Dorr made a team-high seven defensive saves, helping USM to a team goals against average of 1.69. Dorr, who earned second team all-LEC honors in 2005, has 16 defensive saves in her career and two goals and an assist for five points.

A first team all-LEC selection, Hill is earning all region honors for the first time in her career after anchoring the Huskies defense in goal. Playing all but 58 minutes of the season, Hill posted a 1.49 goals against average, making 150 saves and recording three shutouts. Hill, the 2006 LEC Rookie of the Year, was second in the conference in saves (150) and shutouts (3) and sixth in goals against average (1.49 GAA). In two seasons, Hill has compiled a 25-19 overall record and a 16-6 mark in Little East action. She has a career goals-against average of 1.71.

Southern Maine concluded its season in the ECAC Division III New England Championship tournament, advancing to post-season play for the first time since 2003, with a 15-8 overall record and a 9-2 mark in LEC action. The Huskies’ nine wins was the highest win total for USM in the history of its LEC competition. As the conference’s second seed, Southern Maine advanced to the championship game of the LEC tournament, falling to eventual champion Keene State College 2-1 in overtime.

                                                               -cac-