FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2000

SEVEN HAWKS EARN NEC FIELD HOCKEY HONORS

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University had seven members honored as the Northeast Conference hosted its field hockey awards ceremony in West Long Branch, N.J., on Friday. Gina Chico headlined the Hawk honorees as she garnered NEC Player of the Year honors. Chico and five other Hawks were named to the All-NEC teams. Monmouth head coach Monica Morgan Levy was recognized as the NEC Coach of the Year.

Chico set Northeast Conference single-season records with 17 goals and 36 points this year. She currently ranks eighth in the country in goals scored and 11th in the nation in goals per game (0.94).

Morgan Levy earned coach of the year honors for the second consecutive season. She led Monmouth to its first winning season in the brief four-year history of the program. The Hawks own an 11-8 record on the season and went 9-1 in NEC action.

Chico, sophomore forward Kellie Nurko, senior midfielder Marie Uzzo and senior defender Maggie Bomenblit were named first-team All-Northeast Conference. Sophomore midfielder Tara Hartman and sophomore defender Kelly Monahan were tabbed second-team All-NEC.

Nurko, the league’s rookie of the year in 1999, ranks second in the league in scoring this season with 12 goals and 30 points. She is Monmouth’s all-time leading goal scorer with 20 goals in her career. Uzzo and Bomenblit each earned All-NEC honors for the third consecutive season. Uzzo ranks fourth on the Hawks in scoring with four goals and 10 points. Bomenblit keys a Monmouth defense that has posted three shutouts this season.

Hartman and Monahan each earned All-NEC honors for the first time. This marks the first season the league has selected two All-NEC teams. Monmouth had three players named to all-conference last season and four players chosen in the league’s first season sponsoring field hockey in 1998.

Monmouth hosts the Northeast Conference Tournament at the MU Field Hockey Park this weekend. Monmouth and Rider meet in the first semifinal game Saturday at 11 a.m. Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart play in the second semifinal game Sunday at 3 p.m. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m.