By Jimmy Charshafian

Five members of the field hockey team were rewarded for their stellar play this season as the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) handed out its postseason awards last week.

Sophomore defenseman Suzanne Hazelzet, who became the first Northeastern player to win the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, was also named to the All-CAA First Team. Junior midfielder Ashley Bascetta and senior forward Ashley Webber were named to the All-CAA Second Team, while redshirt freshman forward Meg Sweeny made the All-CAA Rookie Team.

Additionally, Webber and senior midfielder Ashley D’Ambra were both named to the CAA All-Tournament team.

The Huskies fell to top-seeded Old Dominion 3-0 in the CAA semifinals in Virginia Beach Saturday to wrap up their season at 9-12.

Hazelzet was a force on both sides of the field this season for the Huskies. Despite playing fullback, a traditionally defensive position, Hazelzet tied for the team lead in points with 13.

“She had a great year,” said tri-captain, senior and goaltender Liz Centofanti. “She was the backbone of our ‘D.’ There was no doubt in anyone’s mind she was going to get that award (Defensive Player of the Year).”

Although her teammates expected her to take home the award, it came as a shock to Hazelzet.

“I didn’t expect it. It was a great surprise,” she said.

During her two years as a Husky, Hazelzet started all 43 games, including four playoff appearances. As a freshman, she was named to the CAA All-Rookie and All-Tournament teams and racked up four goals; this year she posted five, including a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Hofstra Oct. 21.

Unfortunately for the Huskies, Hazelzet will leave Northeastern and play professionally in Holland next year.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” she said. “I really love the girls here.”

Webber, a tri-captain, was a major contributor for the Huskies as well, with 21 goals and 53 points from 2003 to 2006. She chipped in three goals to go along with five assists in her last season with the red and black.

“Her stick skills are phenomenal, some of the best I’ve ever seen,” Centofanti said. “She was such a leader.”

D’Ambra, the final veteran tri-captain, had two assists in Northeastern’s 3-2 quarterfinal win over Towson Oct. 7. She also started all her games as a Husky – 65 since 2005. Six of those were playoff appearances, including a 3-0 loss to Old Dominion on the 2005 final.

Bascetta led the Huskies with six goals this year, and tied Hazelzet for the lead in points. Like D’Ambra, she has also started in all 65 games since her freshman year in 2005, and will be returning to the field in the fall as a junior.

“She really improved over this past spring and summer,” Centofanti said. “She was much more of a leader and was really instrumental with the younger players this year.”

Sweeney said she looks to build upon a strong freshman season in which she had three goals and six points.

– News Staff Maggie Cassidy contributed to this report.