UConn Field Hockey hadn't won a National Championship since 1985, but it had been to Final Fours with a few near misses under long time Head Coach Nancy Stevens....But in 2013 that all changed with some help from a Senior Goalkeeper from England, Sarah Mansfield...
As a Freshman, the young lady never disappointed between the pipes, starting in 88 of her 91 games played. Where Sarah made enough of an impact to earn 3rd Team NFHCA All America Honors...in a 16-6 season, she posted 6 shutouts and a 1.01 gaa...That included a terrific 10 save performance in the NCAA Tournament win over American.
The 2011 team went to the Final Four in posting a 19-3 season record. Mansfield, All Big East for a second straight year, earned 1st Team NFHCA All American Honors, with a 1.24 gaa and 7 shutouts. And named to the All Tournament Team after her incredible 19 save effort in the Final Four loss to North Carolina..
The Huskies 2012 season again saw UConn post a 19-3 record and win the Big East Tournament..where key saves were needed in knocking off rival Syracuse in the Final...But the Huskies quest for back to back final fours were denied in the Quarterfinals....Mansfield, who led the Big East and #2 in the Nation in Goals against at 1.13 earned her NFHCA First Team All American Honors for a seocnd consecutive year...
2013 would be the year the Huskies broke thru in bringing home the big hardware...Starting with a 10 game win streak to open the season. but a three game slide, including a 2-1 loss to North Carolina perhaps let some doubt if the Huskies were good enough to win it...But that loss to the Tar Heels would be their last. They won eight straight and Mansfield posted 5 shut outs. Back to back in defending it's Big East Title, then recording her 30th and Final Career Shutout with a 2-0 win over Duke to win the programs third National Championship and first for Hall of Fame Coach Nancy Stevens...
21-4 with 11 shutouts, with a 1.12 goals against average...Again earning Mansfield First Team NFHCA All American Honors with Teammate and Player of the Year Marie Elena Bolles. In her 4 years in Storrs, she started all but two games in her UConn Career. going 75-16 with a 1.12 goals against average and .770 save percentage. Bolles remains UConn's only Four Time All American...At the time she was the schools 4th - Three Time, First Team All American.
Today Sarah Mansfield is in her 7th year an Assistant at UMass, where she's in charge of the defense and of course, Goalkeeping....But her UMass Team has had little success against her Alma Mater....Sarah Mansfield, an All American, a National Champion and yes, a UConn Legend...