NEW YORK – Friday afternoon will start the last full weekend of nonconference action for the BIG EAST’s eight institutions.
TOP 20 ROUND UP
Connecticut holds steady in the National Field Hockey Coaches Associations (NFHCA) with a No. 4 ranking, dropping from No. 3 this week. An undefeated UConn (3-0) is fresh off a 7-2 win over Drexel, as six different players scored in the victory. The Huskies now have an 18-game home winning streak, dating back to the 2014 season. UConn’s defense has been as stifling as its offense has been dominant, with opponents recording just 16 total shots in the first three games combined. The Huskies hold an impressive 64-16 shots advantage over opposing teams. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Nina Klein has only made three saves in three games due to the outstanding play of Casey Umstead, Anna Middendorf, senior Olivia Bolles and junior Karlie Heistand in the backfield. Also representing the BIG EAST in the NFHCA top 20 is Old Dominion (2-1). The Lady Monarchs, ranked No. 20 in the previous poll, upended American, 2-1, and defeated No. 14 Delaware, 3-2 OT, to shift up five slots this week.
Last weekend, BIG EAST teams went 1-2 against teams in the NFHCA Top 25. This upcoming weekend, Temple will play No. 10 Delaware at home, while Villanova with match up against No. 6 Michigan.
ON THE NATIONAL SCENE
The NCAA released the first national statistical rankings of the season on Tuesday evening and seven of the BIG EAST teams were represented in the top 20 of statistical categories. Connecticut is among the top nine in seven categories. One of 11 undefeated teams this season, UConn is tied for first in the national winning percentage (1.000). The Huskies also rank fifth in the NCAA in assists per game (4.00) while ranking seventh in goals per game (4.67), penalty corners per game (9.33), points per game (13.33) and scoring average (4.69).UConn’s Charlotte Veiter stands at No. 12 in the country in assists per game (1.00) as Amanda Collins, Anna Middendorf and Casey Umstead are tied for 16
th in the NCAA in goals per game (1.000).Quinnipiac ranks first in the country in defensive saves with six. Temple stands in second in the national category with five, followed by Georgetown rating third with four and Villanova, ninth with two saves. Georgetown also ranks fifth in saves 10.50 per game. Individually, Temple’s Becky Gerhart and Quinnipiac’s Angie King rank first among all Division I players with three defensive saves. Liberty’s goalkeeper Allison Schaefer is third in the nation in saves per game at 9.67 while Georgetown goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki rates fourth with an average of 9.50 saves per game. For the full NCAA listing click
here.
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
The BIG EAST has five players from four teams rank in nine of the NCAA’s active career leader lists. UConn junior Charlotte Veitner, the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, ranks in six of the categories: first in goals per game (3.12), assists (37), assists per game (0.76) and second in goals (58), goals per game (1.18) and points (153). Teammate Nina Klein ranks first in goals-against with an average of 0.89. Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, Quinnipiac’s Angie King ranks first in defensive saves (21) while BIG EAST Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year Serena Barr ranks fifth in assists (28). Georgetown starting goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki ranks third in saves (312).
NCAA Active Career Leaders
Player, School Category Stat Rank
Serena Barr, Liberty Assists 28 28
Angie King, Quinnipiac Defensive Saves 21 1
Nina Klein, UConn Goals Against Average 0.89 1
Rachel Skonecki, Georgetown Saves 312 3
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Points Per Game 3.12 1
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Assists 37 1
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Assists Per Game 0.76 1
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Goals 58 2
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Goals Per Game 1.18 2
Charlotte Veitner, UConn Points 153 2