O’Rourke Selected to Play in NFHCA Division III Senior Game

WORCESTER, Mass. – On Wednesday (Oct. 28), the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced the athletes selected to play in this year’s Victory Sports Tours / NFHCA Division III Senior Game. Senior forward, Julie O’Rourke (Worcester, Mass.) has been given this remarkable opportunity and stands as Worcester State’s second-ever individual to obtain this honor.

“I am extremely honored to have received this amazing opportunity,” said O’Rourke. “These past four years at Worcester State have shaped me into the player I am today and I wouldn't be where I am without the help and support from my incredible seniors, teammates and coaches.”

“We were so incredibly happy and proud to hear that Julie was selected for the NFHCA DIII Senior Game,” said head coach Kim Cosenza. “She has earned every ounce of this honor!”

O’Rouke has been with the Worcester State field hockey team since 2012 and has been an offensive threat as she currently is third in all-time points with 93 (32 goals, 29 assists) - just five behind second-place holder Tara Tokarz (1993-97) and 10 behind first-place Ann Clark (2003-06). She currently is the Worcester State all-time leader for assists in an individual season with 13 in 2014, and she also holds the most career assists with 29, besting the subsequent player by nine.

She has been awarded First-Team All-Conference in 2014, Second Team All-Conference in 2013, and various Little East Conference (LEC) player of the week awards throughout her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

“Not only is she one of the fastest and most tenacious offenders in our conference, she is also the ideal teammate,” said Cosenza. “Julie brings a tremendous amount of intensity and competition to each and every practice and it is without a doubt that I can say she leaves everything she has on the field during games. She is a student of the game and has worked tirelessly over the past four years to better her physical fitness, field hockey skills and mental game. “

This season, O’Rourke is currently leading the team with 22 points and eight assists. She has been named the LEC Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Sep. 21-27 and she currently stands first in the conference for assists, and is eighth in the conference in points thus far this season.

“The NFHCA Division III Senior Game is a fantastic culmination to a historic career for Julie here at Worcester State,” said Cosenza. “Julie embodies what it means to be WSU field hockey athlete.”

The Division III Senior Game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) and is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start time.

“I am so thankful and look forward to representing the Worcester State community at the NFHCA Division III Senior Game,” stated O’Rourke.

Julie O’Rourke Statistics

Italicized – Current Season

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