STORRS, Conn. - Old Dominion junior forward Rosario Villagra was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, senior back Christy Longacre was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and the Old Dominion coaches were named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. The announcements were made at the annual BIG EAST Championship banquet, which is held at the site of the BIG EAST Championship.
The All-BIG EAST First and Second Teams also were announced. Old Dominion junior midfielder Kelsey Smither, senior back Longacre and junior forward Villagra were named to the All-Big East First Team. Sophomore midfielder Sarah Breen was named to the All-Big East second team.
Villagra led the Lady Monarchs in scoring with 41 points (tied in the Big East) on 14 goals and 13 assists. She led all league players with five game-winning goals. Her 2.28 points per game average ranked second in the conference.
Longacre led a Lady Monarch defensive effort that allowed only 25 goals in the regular season, the lowest goal total in the Big East. ODU shut out seven of its last nine opponents. In 2012, Longacre was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Led by first-year head coach Andrew Griffiths, the Lady Monarchs ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak, which included seven shutouts and won a share of the Big East regular-season title.
2013 BIG EAST Field Hockey Awards
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Rosario Villagra- Old Dominion University
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Christy Longacre- Old Dominion University
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Shannon Sloss- University of Louisville
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Old Dominion University
All- BIG EAST First Team
*Christy Longacre, Old Dominion, B
*Kelsey Smither, Old Dominion, MF
*Rosario Villagra, Old Dominion, F
Sarah Mansfield, Connecticut, GK
*Roisin Upton, Connecticut, MF
Chloe Hunnable, Connecticut, F
Marie Elena Bolles, Connecticut, At-Large
Anna Jeute, Connecticut, At-Large
Alyssa Voelmle, Louisville, B
Erin Schneidtmiller, Louisville, At-Large
Amber Youtz, Temple, At-Large
Katie Malone, Providence, At-Large
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Sarah Breen, Old Dominion, MF
Liz Millen, Temple, GK
Maddy Harding, Villanova, B
Sophia Walia, Rutgers, B
Sophie Wright, Rutgers, MF
Molly Doyle, Temple, F
Daniella Bernasconi, Providence, F
Henni Tietze, Providence, At-Large
Elisa Garcia, Louisville, At-Large
Chrissy Davidson, Connecticut, At-Large
Sydney King, Louisville, At-Large
*Denotes unanimous selection
No. 5 and No. 2 seed Old Dominion University play No. 14 and No. 3 seed Louisville tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Big East Tournament Semifinals held at the University of Connecticut.