Laurie O’Connell was a four-year member of both the field hockey and women’s basketball teams from 1982 to 1986 and also played three seasons of women’s lacrosse and one season of softball. A determined and tenacious defender, Laurie played midfield on the Bears’ field hockey squad and helped the team make four straight trips to the postseason including NCAA Tournament appearances in 1982 and 1985. She tallied seven goals and three assists for 17 points including a career-best five goals as a senior in 1985. O’Connell was selected as a Collegiate Field Hockey Coaches Association (CFHCA) Division III All-American Honorable Mention and named to the All-MASCAC Team for her outstanding performance during her senior campaign. During Laurie’s field hockey career, the Bears posted a record of 47-15-11 (.719) and went 15-1-2 (.889) against MASCAC teams. On the hardwood, Laurie averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals over 99 career games as the women’s basketball team made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bears went 86-21 (.804) during her career including an impressive 37-3 (.925) regular season mark against MASCAC teams. O’Connell also tallied 80 goals and 15 assists for 95 points in 35 games for the women’s lacrosse team. She notched a career-high 42 goals and 15 assists as a senior in 1986 as she led the Bears’ to a 10-4-1 record and their first postseason appearance. Laurie demonstrated her versatility during her junior year of 1985 as she laced up her cleats for the softball team. She helped the Bears post a 21-11 record (8-4 MASCAC) and earn a spot in the ECAC Tournament. O’Connell appeared in 22 games as a utility player, scored 11 runs, stole eight bases and notched 14 hits to go along with six walks and three sacrifice bunts. Laurie graduated cum laude from Bridgewater State in 1988 with a double major in psychology and physical education with a concentration in adapted/motor development therapy. After spending two years in Linfen, China as part of an exchange program, Laurie attended Johns Hopkins University where she earned a Masters (summa cum laude) in biochemistry and medical psychology in 1994. Laurie worked at DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical as a clinical research scientist before forming her own company, O’Connell Research Consulting, LLC in 1998. Following her retirement, Laurie worked at the YMCA of Delaware as a certified personal trainer and a youth/family fitness instructor.