GORHAM, Maine   –  Senior Julianna Kiklis (York, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies field hockey team has been named the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) Division III Defensive Player of the Week. 
 
Recently named the Little East Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, Kiklis, a fifth-year senior, helped lead Southern Maine to its first Little East Conference Tournament Championship in 20 years.  Kiklis was outstanding in the tournament totaling 12 saves in a pair of wins, including a 2-1 overtime thriller against VTSU-Castleton in the conference semifinals, and a 1-0 shutout victory over Keene State College in the championship game.
 
Posting a 0.49 goals against average over the two games, Kiklis had a remarkable 0.923 save percentage facing 14 shots on goal.  In addition to her numerous saves, Kiklis, one of the Huskies' captains, made several key defensive plays to end potential scoring opportunities.  Kiklis made six saves against VTSU-Castleton, limiting Division III's leading scorer Emily Harris to just one goal (nearly three goals below her per game average).  In the title game, Kiklis stymied Keene State making another six saves to earn the shutout victory.
 
Securing the 2023 Little East Conference Regular Season Championship and winning the 2023 LEC Tournament, Southern Maine is 15-7 overall and went 6-0 in the LEC regular season.  Earning its sixth berth to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament, and first since 2003, Southern Maine will face no. 10 Tufts University at 6 pm in Malden, Mass.
 
    -cac-