Providence College Athletics

Former Friar Sara DeCosta-Hayes Retires

12/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey

Dec. 2, 2003

USA Hockey today announced that Olympic gold and silver medalist Sara DeCosta-Hayes (Warwick, R.I.) will officially retire from the United States Women's National Team Program.

DeCosta-Hayes' career with the U.S. Women's National and Olympic Teams spanned more than seven years. She posted a 3-0-0 record and earned one shutout for the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team that won the inaugural women's hockey gold medal in Nagano, Japan. In 2002, she helped backstop the U.S. to a silver medal in Salt Lake City, posting a 2-1-0 record and making 26 saves against Canada in the gold-medal game.

"This marks the end of a tremendous career by a great athlete," said U.S. National and Olympic Team Head Coach Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.). "From Sara's time in high school, to Providence College and at the Olympics, she has been everything you want in a player. She has set a benchmark for future U.S. goaltenders. We are sad to see Sara leave, but happy to see her open a new chapter in her life. We also look forward to having her remain part of our program in a different capacity."

Most recently, she won a gold medal at last month's 2003 Four Nations Cup as a member of the 2003 U.S. Women's Select Team. She appeared in two games, earning two victories and allowing only one goal in 120 minutes of play.

DeCosta-Hayes closed out her impressive USA Hockey career with a 47-6-2 record, including 23 shutouts. She also posted a 1.16 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in 3,227 minutes played.

"It has been an amazing experience representing my country for the past eight years," said DeCosta-Hayes. "I want to thank everyone involved with USA Hockey, especially all of my teammates and coaches. Although I will miss wearing the USA jersey, I am looking forward to starting a family with my husband, Mark."

She also won two silver medals as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team at International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championships (2000 and 2001), and was a member of three U.S. Women's Select Teams (1996, 1998 and 2003).

DeCosta-Hayes will finish her career as the Team USA goaltender who posted the best career record against rival Canada. In 11 games she earned an 8-2-1 mark, including one shutout -- in the final game of the 1997 Three Nations Cup -- the first-ever by a U.S. goaltender against Canada.

She finished her collegiate career at Providence College in 2000, and was twice named the USA Hockey Women's Player Of The Year (2000 and 2002).

- Release provided by USA Hockey

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