Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Bids Didio, Seniors Farewell Sunday Against Orangewomen
10/30/2003 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 30, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Senior Day is always an emotional and special day for the Northwestern field hockey program. Seniors Diane Provencher, Suzi Sutton and Katie Walshauser will play their final match at the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex Sunday when the 'Cats take on Syracuse.
It also will be the final time head coach Marisa Didio will patrol the sidelines as a Northwestern Wildcat. After nine seasons at NU, Didio will retire at the end of the season.
The Wildcats (7-8, 1-5) have business to take care of first Friday when Saint Louis comes to town for a 2 p.m. start. NU hopes to send Didio, Provencher, Sutton and Walshauser out winners and also will look to get on a roll with the Big Ten Tournament right around the corner.
Here is a look at the careers of Didio and her seniors.
Provencher has been a mainstay for the Wildcats over the last four years, playing in 66 matches, drawing starting assignments in all but two of those. She has been the anchor of the Wildcat backfield and has emerged as an offensive threat this season as well. Provencher erupted for three points, leading the 'Cats to a 5-3 win over Central Michigan earlier this season.
Sutton, a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic Team selection, has started 62 matches for the Wildcats in her career. She was named all-Big Ten and was an all-Big Ten Tournament honoree in 2001 after scoring seven points that season. At the conclusion of the field hockey season, Sutton will become a member of the Northwestern women's basketball team and will add depth at the guard position.
Walshauser, a two-time academic all-Big Ten selection, was recently selected as an alternate to play in the NFHCA Senior All-Star game. She is enjoying the most productive season of her career in a Wildcat uniform this year, tallying seven points on three goals and an assist, which is good enough for third most on the team.
After coaching for 22 years, nine at NU, Didio will retire at the end of this season. Upon completing a playing career that included being a member of the United States National Field Hockey and Lacrosse teams, Didio began what would become one of the most successful coaching careers in NCAA Field Hockey and lacrosse history.
She guided her alma mater, New Hampshire, to a national championship in lacrosse in 1985 and one year later guided the field hockey team to a 17-3 season and an NCAA Tournament Finals birth in 1986. Eight years later she would return to the NCAA Final Four with the Big Ten Champion Northwestern Wildcats.
Didio is one of the most decorated and successful coaches in history. Besides her national and Big Ten Championships, she earned National Coach of the Year honors in 1985, Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades in 1994, made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in Field Hockey and coached Yale to the ECAC title in 1998. Didio has over 250 coaching victories to her credit.
