Field Hockey: Letendre, Olsen named GNAC Rookie & Goalie of the Week

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

WINTHROP, MASS. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference announced this afternoon that both Rivier University sophomore Katie Olsen (Saugus, Mass.) and freshman Carissa Letendre (Whitinsville, Mass.) were selected as the conference's Field Hockey Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Week. This is the first time this season that a member of the Raider Field Hockey team was given weekly accolades from the GNAC.

Olsen was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Week for the first time in her career as she backstopped the Raiders to a perfect 2-0 week. Olsen totaled over 147 minutes of time between the pipes without allowing a goal as the team earned a pair of first-time victories over Fitchburg State and Simmons. In the 1-0 double-overtime victory at Fitchburg State, Olsen stopped all six shots she faced and followed that performance with a 12-save effort in the overtime win against Simmons.

Letendre's two game-winners in extra time was the difference in the team's two victories on the week. The rookie midfielder netter her first career game-winner in the 1-0 double overtime win on the road at Fitchburg State before securing the team's first win over Simmons as her overtime goal lifted the Raiders to a 1-0 conference win. She also averaged six shots on net over the week with an average of three shots per game.

This is the first time in the 11-year history of the Raider Field Hockey program that two student-athletes received weekly honors during the same week. The last time a Raider earned GOTW honors was back on October 3, 2016 when current assistant coach Emily Foster '19 was selected for the second time that season. Last season current sophomore Maegan Sheehy (Sabattus, Maine) was tabbed GNAC Rookie of the Week on three separate occasions.

Rivier will battle Elms College tomorrow night out in Chicopee, Massachusetts with a 7pm start time. Their next home game will be on Thursday night as they host Dean College also at 7pm.