Junior Diana Nelson made a career-high nine saves for 10th-ranked Northeastern, but visiting 13th-ranked Connecticut managed to slip two past her for a 2-0 victory at Sweeney Field in non-conference action.
The loss snapped Northeastern's four-game winning streak, as the Huskies fell to 11-5 on the season. NU lost at Sweeney Field for just the fifth time since moving there prior to the 2001 season and are now 26-5 at Sweeney. UConn improved to 10-4.
NU controlled play much of the first half, but it was UConn which was able to capitalize one one its scoring opportunities for a 1-0 halftime lead. After an NU defensive substitution, UConn's Mary Jo Malone picked up a loose ball in the Northeastern end and dribbled in on an uncontested breakaway. Malone managed to get around Nelson and sent the ball into the cage from 20 yards out to put UConn at 25:39.
"In the first half we had our chances and I didn't feel bad down 1-0," said NU coach Cheryl Murtagh. "I feel like we caved in in the seoond half and that's the disappointing part."
At the break Northeastern held a 4-2 penalty-corner advantage and forces UConn goalie into making three saves, but couldn't muster any offensive pressure in the second period.
UConn outshot NU, 14-4, for the game, including eight second half shots. Nelson was forced to make seven saves in the second half.
"I think Diana played very well making those saves and helping us out to stay in the game," said Murtagh.
The best Northeastern scoring chance came with 7:30 remaining in the first period. Liane Dixon took a pass in front of the goal and knocked a backhander toward the goal, but was stymied by Bostwick.
A minute after Nelson made a diving glove save on a Laura Puddle shot toward the top left corner of the net, Puddle had a deflection come to her just inside the circle at the right arc. She fired a shot on the ground inside the near post to give UConn a 2-0 lead at 46:49.
Field Hockey Box Score (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook For Field Hockey
Connecticut vs Northeastern (Oct 15, 2003 at Boston, MA)
Connecticut (10-4, 1-1 Big East) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Northeastern (11-5, 2-0 AE) -------------------------------
Date: Oct 15, 2003 Attendance: 154 Connecticut......... 1 1 - 2
Weather: Partly cloudy, windy, high 50's Northeastern........ 0 0 - 0
Connecticut Northeastern
Pos. # Player Sh G A Pos. # Player Sh G A
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
G 2 Melissa Bostwick.... - - - G 77 Diana Nelson........ - - -
M 3 Jennifer Lozito..... - - - F 3 Sara Webber......... 3 - -
F 7 April Cornell....... - - - F 4 Liane Dixon......... 1 - -
F 8 Lauren Henderson.... 4 - - B 5 Leigh Shea.......... - - -
M 10 Kelly Stolle........ 1 - - F 9 Mari Creatini....... - - -
M 18 Abby Ostruzka....... - - - M 10 Sarah Eckhoff....... - - -
M 19 Becky Helwig........ 2 - - B 15 Melissa Rowell...... - - -
F 20 Mary Jo Malone...... 3 1 - M 19 Jay Quinn........... - - -
M 27 Brianna Clark....... - - - B 20 Alli Bolster........ - - -
B 28 Laura Thibodeau..... - - - B 21 Megan Troxel........ - - -
M 29 Laura Puddle........ 4 1 - B 22 Lauren Edelmeier.... - - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
11 Leigh Morrissette... - - - 23 Joy Earley.......... - - -
17 Lyndsay Thomson..... - - - 24 Whitney Shean....... - - -
22 Meagan Hoffmann..... - - -
Totals.............. 4 0 0
Totals.............. 14 2 0
Connecticut Northeastern
# Player MIN GA Saves # Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
2 Melissa Bostwick.... 70:00 0 3 77 Diana Nelson........ 70:00 2 9
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Connecticut......... 6 8 - 14 Connecticut......... 3 0 - 3
Northeastern........ 4 0 - 4 Northeastern........ 2 7 - 9
Penalty corners 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Connecticut......... 2 6 - 8 Connecticut......... 0 0 - 0
Northeastern........ 4 1 - 5 Northeastern........ 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 25:39 UCONN 20 Mary Jo Malone (12) Unassisted
2. 46:49 UCONN 29 Laura Puddle (2) Unassisted
