ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

HAMILTON, Ont. – Two players and a pair of coaches the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Martlets field hockey team have earned all-conference honours among the 2008 Ontario University Athletics field hockey all-stars and major award winners announced by the OUA, Thursday.

Jean-Pierre Turpain and Laurent Fayen, who share co-coaching duties at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, have been named co-recipients of the league's coach-of-the-year award, becoming the first mentors from ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ to earn this honour from the OUA.

Martlets' goaltender Shauna Kearns of Toronto, Ont., earned second-team all-star status along with teammate and midfielder Camille St. Cyr, a science freshman from Richmond, B.C.

The coaching duo of Turpain -- in his second season at the helm -- and Fayen, in his first campaign -- helped turn the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ program around from being a pushover to a surprisingly improved squad -- one that made great strides and was extremely competitive in 10 of their 14 contests. The Martlets won their first game in three seasons and tied three others, finishing with a 1-10-3 record. They also suffered five losses by one goal and another by two.

ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ also cut down on its goals against, allowing 28 fewer goals in 2008 compared to the previous season.

Cailie O’Hara of Oakville, Ont., and a member of the Toronto Varsity Blues, was named as the OUA player of the year for the second consecutive season.

Rookie-of-the-year honours went to Guelph's Jessalyn Walkey, a native of Rockwood, Ont., of the Guelph Gryphons, who was also an OUA first team all-star.

Western's Sarah Coburn of Mississauga, Ont., received the Gail Wilson Award, presented to a player who makes the most outstanding contribution to field hockey.


2008 OUA FIELD HOCKEY ALL-STARS AND MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

OUA ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM

Brittney Blount (York)
Lakae Dill (Western)
Angela Lancaster (Guelph)
Cailie O’Hara (Toronto)
Effie Petrou (York)
Kristen Shier (Toronto)
Brienne Stairs (Guelph)
Jessalyn Walkey (Guelph)
Kaelan Watson (Toronto)
Michelle Weber (Western)
Krissy Wishart (Guelph)

SECOND TEAM

Shauna Kearns (ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ)
Leanne Kelly (York)
Meike Knur (Western)
Vicky Lounder (Waterloo)
Katherine Olsen (Waterloo)
Kyesia O’Neale (Toronto)
Louise Radford (Western)
Mary Anne Reid (Queen’s)
Camille St. Cyr (ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ)
Rianna Sterk (Toronto)
Shannon Treacy (Toronto)


PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cailie O’Hara (Toronto)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jessalyn Walkey (Guelph)

GAIL WILSON AWARD WINNER: Sarah Coburn (Western)

COACH OF THE YEAR: (co-winners) Jean-Pierre Turpain & Laurent Fayen (ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ)