When Erica Dorso decided to transfer to Husson College from the University of Maine because she wanted “something smaller,” she never anticipated becoming Husson’s all-time field hockey scoring leader.

But that is exactly what has transpired.

Dorso set the record last weekend when she registered four goals and three assists Sunday in a 9-3 win over Simmons College after racking up three goals and an assist in Saturday’s 6-1 triumph over Lasell College.

The 2007 North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year now has 41 goals and 28 assists in her career.

“I didn’t think I’d break it because I could only play for three years. But I did,” said Dorso, who will lead the fourth-seeded Eagles (7-7 overall, 3-3 NAC) into a quarterfinal against No. 5 Lasell (7-9, 2-4) today at 3 p.m. at Husson. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

The Farmingdale native and former St. Dominic of Auburn standout has bettered her statistics every year.

She had 13 goals and 7 assists for 33 points in 2006; 12 & 12 for 36 points last year and, so far this fall, she has amassed 16 goals and 9 assists for 41 points.

“I think I’ve improved, mentally, every year and team chemistry really helps out, also,” said Dorso. “We have great team chemistry.

“This is my last year and I want to make the best of it. It’s over for me after this and I really believe our team can win [the NAC tournament title],” said Dorso. “This team is awesome. Everybody works hard. We have a lot of fun and it really helps me. It makes me want to help the team out as much as I can.”

Dorso has a knack for the cage and credits her success to generating a “lot of movement in the circle.

“I’ve gotten a lot of assists, too, and it’s because other people are scoring as well. That’s nice because I’m not the only scoring threat,” said Dorso, who likes to position herself in front of the goalie “so I have different angles to shoot from.

“The [midfielders] are at the top of the circle driving the ball as hard as they can and I’m out front looking for rebounds, too,” added Dorso.

“She sets herself up well in the circle and outside the circle,” said Husson coach Sharon Tracy. “She knows where to go to be a threat and that makes her a threat no matter where she is.

“When she’s in front of the cage, she knows where the [shooting] angles are so she won’t keep bashing the ball into the goalie. She finds the right pocket where there isn’t the goalie’s or a defender’s stick. And she knows how to lift the ball the right amount off the ground to put it over people’s sticks,” added Tracy.

Dorso’s younger sister, Elisha, is the team’s second-leading scorer with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. They have four other players with at least 11 points in Krystal Doughty (7 goals, 1 assist), Courtney Allen (6 & 2), Erin Nason (5 & 1) and Jillian Morin (3 & 5).

Tracy said Erica Dorso draws a lot of attention from opposing defenders but “she has learned how to adjust to get her stick. It was a little tough at the beginning of the season but she’s really been on fire lately.”

Tracy said the speedy Dorso sets the standard for the other forwards and, like her sister, is one of the first ones to get her stick on the ball coming off the goalie’s pads.

Husson has won six of its last seven and is playing its best hockey of the season entering the playoffs.

“We’ve gotten used to playing with each other,” explained Dorso.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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