University of New Hampshire Athletics
Field Hockey Honors Student-Athletes at Annual Banquet
2/11/2016 12:53:00 PM | Field Hockey
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire field hockey team gathered Feb. 6 at Huddleston Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2015 season, pay tribute to the seniors and hold an awards presentation.
The Joyce V. Hiller '54 Scholarship Award – which is given with respect to what Joyce has meant to the field hockey program: a person who is always there with a helping hand and gives selflessly to the program – went to midfielder Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.).
Bensaia was named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region First Team and America East All-Conference First Team in 2015. A sophomore midfielder, she started all 19 games with three goals and two assists for eight points. Beyond the offensive stats, she was a linchpin in the midfield by utilizing strong stick skills to transition the Wildcats from defense to offense. In the opening weekend against a pair of nationally-ranked teams, Bensaia tallied an assist against Boston U. and scored a goal vs. UMass with 1:45 remaining in regulation to tie the score and propel the Wildcats to an overtime win. She also played on both the defensive and offensive penalty corner units, where she was one of the primary stick-stops.
The Marisa Didio Award was given to Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.). This award recognizes a student-athlete who represents the Extra Mile Theory, which states, "Some choose the shortest distance doing only what is required. Others give of themselves more freely and go the extra mile."
Nerbonne was also named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region First Team and America East All-Conference First Team in 2015. A junior midfielder who started all 19 games, Nerbonne led UNH in goals (12), game-winning goals (three), points (26) and shots (85); she also ranked fourth in shooting percentage (.141). With those numbers, Nerbonne ranked third in goals per game, fourth in points per game and second in shots per game.
Nerbonne scored a goal seven of the last 11 regular-season games, including a pair of two-goal efforts, with nine goals and an assist for 19 points in that span. Overall, she recorded a point in 9 of 19 games. In eight America East conference games, she tallied 17 points on eight goals and an assist. Nerbonne scored career-high three goals to match her personal best of six points in the overtime win against UMass.
The Donna Lynne '74 Scholarship Award, which goes to an athlete who makes a substantial contribution to the team through athletic and leadership abilities, was awarded to Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Pa.).
Hozza, a junior back who played in all 19 games with 18 starts, tied for first on the team with three assists and added a goal for a total of five points. She ranked fourth on the team for shots with 29. Hozza notched a goal in the 3-1 win against Harvard and tallied an assist on the game-winning goal vs. Providence College.
The Katherine Duffy Sandler '00 and Ross Sandler '98 Athletic Scholarship Award was presented to sophomore Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario). This award has been established to provide scholarship to a field hockey player who brings similar dedication, leadership and passion to the team that they did as Wildcats.
Mendonca started all 19 games as a sophomore back at UNH in the 2015 season, and she rarely came off the field in playing 1236 of a possible 1327 minutes (93%). In addition to being a defensive stopper and being an integral part of the defensive penalty corner unit, Mendonca was also a factor on offensive penalty corners. She contributed two goals and three assists for seven points. She ranked third on the team in shots (31).
The recipient of the Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Award this year is Brittany Marshall (Hopkinton, NH). This honor goes to the player that embodies a competitive spirit and, through their improved play, has made a significant contribution to the team's success.
Marshall played in eight games in 2015, which was an improvement from the previous season, when she only appeared in four games. The team was 4-4 in games that she appeared in. She played a season high 14 minutes in her first game of the season against UConn. Marshall recorded her only shot of the year against Vermont in her last game of the season.
The senior class of Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.), Emma Compagna (Canton, Mass.), Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.), Chandler Giese (Trappe, Pa.), Lynne Lehman (Landisburg, Pa.) and Taylor Rideout (Barrington, R.I.) was also honored. These six Wildcats helped UNH to a pair of America East regular-season titles, one conference tournament crown and an NCAA tourney appearance. Spanning the 2012-15 seasons, the 'Cats compiled an 18-5 conference record and 44 wins overall.
New Hampshire boasted three All-Region Team selections as well as two All-Conference Team, one all-Rookie Team and two All-Academic Team honorees in 2015.
2015 UNH Field Hockey Team Banquet Awards
Joyce V. Hiller '54 Scholarship Award – Gianna Bensaia
Marisa Didio Award – Lindsey Nerbonne
Donna Lynne '74 Scholarship Award – Jackie Hozza
Katherine Duffy Sandler '00 and Ross Sandler '98 Athletic Scholarship Award – Ashley Mendonca
Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Award – Britt Marshall
The Joyce V. Hiller '54 Scholarship Award – which is given with respect to what Joyce has meant to the field hockey program: a person who is always there with a helping hand and gives selflessly to the program – went to midfielder Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.).
Bensaia was named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region First Team and America East All-Conference First Team in 2015. A sophomore midfielder, she started all 19 games with three goals and two assists for eight points. Beyond the offensive stats, she was a linchpin in the midfield by utilizing strong stick skills to transition the Wildcats from defense to offense. In the opening weekend against a pair of nationally-ranked teams, Bensaia tallied an assist against Boston U. and scored a goal vs. UMass with 1:45 remaining in regulation to tie the score and propel the Wildcats to an overtime win. She also played on both the defensive and offensive penalty corner units, where she was one of the primary stick-stops.
The Marisa Didio Award was given to Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.). This award recognizes a student-athlete who represents the Extra Mile Theory, which states, "Some choose the shortest distance doing only what is required. Others give of themselves more freely and go the extra mile."
Nerbonne was also named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region First Team and America East All-Conference First Team in 2015. A junior midfielder who started all 19 games, Nerbonne led UNH in goals (12), game-winning goals (three), points (26) and shots (85); she also ranked fourth in shooting percentage (.141). With those numbers, Nerbonne ranked third in goals per game, fourth in points per game and second in shots per game.
Nerbonne scored a goal seven of the last 11 regular-season games, including a pair of two-goal efforts, with nine goals and an assist for 19 points in that span. Overall, she recorded a point in 9 of 19 games. In eight America East conference games, she tallied 17 points on eight goals and an assist. Nerbonne scored career-high three goals to match her personal best of six points in the overtime win against UMass.
The Donna Lynne '74 Scholarship Award, which goes to an athlete who makes a substantial contribution to the team through athletic and leadership abilities, was awarded to Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Pa.).
Hozza, a junior back who played in all 19 games with 18 starts, tied for first on the team with three assists and added a goal for a total of five points. She ranked fourth on the team for shots with 29. Hozza notched a goal in the 3-1 win against Harvard and tallied an assist on the game-winning goal vs. Providence College.
The Katherine Duffy Sandler '00 and Ross Sandler '98 Athletic Scholarship Award was presented to sophomore Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario). This award has been established to provide scholarship to a field hockey player who brings similar dedication, leadership and passion to the team that they did as Wildcats.
Mendonca started all 19 games as a sophomore back at UNH in the 2015 season, and she rarely came off the field in playing 1236 of a possible 1327 minutes (93%). In addition to being a defensive stopper and being an integral part of the defensive penalty corner unit, Mendonca was also a factor on offensive penalty corners. She contributed two goals and three assists for seven points. She ranked third on the team in shots (31).
The recipient of the Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Award this year is Brittany Marshall (Hopkinton, NH). This honor goes to the player that embodies a competitive spirit and, through their improved play, has made a significant contribution to the team's success.
Marshall played in eight games in 2015, which was an improvement from the previous season, when she only appeared in four games. The team was 4-4 in games that she appeared in. She played a season high 14 minutes in her first game of the season against UConn. Marshall recorded her only shot of the year against Vermont in her last game of the season.
The senior class of Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.), Emma Compagna (Canton, Mass.), Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.), Chandler Giese (Trappe, Pa.), Lynne Lehman (Landisburg, Pa.) and Taylor Rideout (Barrington, R.I.) was also honored. These six Wildcats helped UNH to a pair of America East regular-season titles, one conference tournament crown and an NCAA tourney appearance. Spanning the 2012-15 seasons, the 'Cats compiled an 18-5 conference record and 44 wins overall.
New Hampshire boasted three All-Region Team selections as well as two All-Conference Team, one all-Rookie Team and two All-Academic Team honorees in 2015.
2015 UNH Field Hockey Team Banquet Awards
Joyce V. Hiller '54 Scholarship Award – Gianna Bensaia
Marisa Didio Award – Lindsey Nerbonne
Donna Lynne '74 Scholarship Award – Jackie Hozza
Katherine Duffy Sandler '00 and Ross Sandler '98 Athletic Scholarship Award – Ashley Mendonca
Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Award – Britt Marshall
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