Photo Credit: Scott Becque/Courtney Adams
America East Release
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BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont field hockey senior Kristen Heavens (Harwinton, Conn.) has been named the 2009 America East Goalkeeper of the Year. Heavens was one of three Catamounts honored by the league, as the announcements were made on Thursday. Senior Sarah Meacham (North Hartland, Vt.) earned a spot on the conference’s second team, while freshman Taylor Silvestro (Walpole, Mass.) made the all-rookie team.

Heavens becomes the first Catamount in school history to be named the league’s goalkeeper of the year, as she also earned a spot on the first team. She finished her career second all-time in school history in both wins (27) and goals against average, while recording nine career shutouts. This year she ranks third in the nation in saves per game (9.76) and sixth save percentage (.802). Heavens’ 23 saves against Maine this year ranked as the second-most in a game in the nation this season.

This year marks the sixth straight season that Vermont has had at least one representative on the first team.

Meacham broke on to the scene as a freshman by making nine starts on her way to earning a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team. This year she started all 17 games that she played in and finished her career with 60 combined starts.

Silvestro played in 14 games as a freshman, making five starts. She recorded her first career point in a 3-0 win over UC Davis when she set up Vermont’s second goal of the contest. Silvestro is the eighth Catamount to be named to the all-rookie team in the last six years and 10th overall.

Vermont finished the 2009 season 1-17 overall and 0-5 in America East play.