Junior Mari Creatini dribbled through defenders and slipped a shot past Harvard keeper Katie Zacarian in the 63rd minute of play to lift 12th-ranked Northeastern to a 2-1 victory over the 16th-ranked Crimson at Sweeney Field Wednesday afternoon.
“It's a win,” said NU coach Cheryl Murtagh. “I feel we need to play a little better. We were on our heels a little with Harvard's aggression. But, we're an aggressive team, too. And, we were able to create enough scoring opportunities to get the victory.”
The Crimson (7-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead when junior Shelley Maasdorp fired in a shot into the left corner of the cage from 20-yards out off a penalty corner in the eighth minute of action. Senior Mina Pell and Jen Ahn assisted on the play. Instead of Elizabeth Andrews striking the ball of the corner, Ahn pushed the ball to Maasdorp on the left wing.
After play settled, the momentum swung in Northeastern's direction. With the Huskies pressuring in the final 10 minutes before the half, Harvard's Diana Bowen made a great defensive stop on a Creatini shot. NU (10-4) was then awarded a penalty corner. Melissa Rowell's shot was saved by Crimson keeper Zacarian (one save), but the ball went out of bounds and the Huskies earned another penalty corner attempt. NU capitalized on their second opportunity with Sara Webber unleashing a blast past an outstretched Zacarian with 5:19 left before the break. Creatini and Leigh Shea assisted on the play.
Harvard tried to rally in the waning moments of the game, but the Husky defense stood its ground. NU goalie Diana Nelson recorded four saves for the victory.
Creatini's goal was her 21st of the season. She leads the nation in points (52) and goals (21). Creatini is three goals shy of the Northeastern single-season record.
The Huskies held an 8-4 penalty corner advantage, while the shots were dead even at seven apiece.
Harvard Northeastern
Pos. # Player Sh G A Pos. # Player Sh G A
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
G 1 Katie Zacarian...... - - - G 77 Diana Nelson........ - - -
M 2 Shelley Maasdorp.... 2 1 - F 3 Sara Webber......... 2 1 -
M 3 Kate McDavitt....... 2 - - F 4 Liane Dixon......... - - -
F 4 Tiffany Egnaczyk.... - - - B 5 Leigh Shea.......... - - 1
B 6 Diana Bowen......... - - - F 9 Mari Creatini....... 3 1 1
F 8 Mina Pell........... 1 - 1 M 10 Sarah Eckhoff....... - - -
M 9 Jane Sackovich...... - - - B 15 Melissa Rowell...... 1 - -
M 11 Jennifer McDavitt... - - - M 19 Jay Quinn........... - - -
B 14 Jen Ahn............. - - 1 B 20 Alli Bolster........ - - -
B 19 Elizabeth Andrews... 2 - - B 21 Megan Troxel........ - - -
M 22 Kate Gannon......... - - - B 22 Lauren Edelmeier.... - - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
12 Julie Lane.......... - - - 14 Natalie Singelais... - - -
16 Gretchen Fuller..... - - - 24 Whitney Shean....... 1 - -
Totals.............. 7 1 2 Totals.............. 7 2 2
Harvard Northeastern
# Player MIN GA Saves # Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
1 Katie Zacarian...... 70:00 2 1 77 Diana Nelson........ 70:00 1 4
TM TEAM................ 0:00 0 1
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Harvard............. 4 3 - 7 Harvard............. 1 1 - 2
Northeastern........ 4 3 - 7 Northeastern........ 2 2 - 4
Penalty corners 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Harvard............. 2 2 - 4 Harvard............. 0 0 - 0
Northeastern........ 5 3 - 8 Northeastern........ 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 7:46 HU 2 Shelley Maasdorp (5) 14 Jen Ahn/8 Mina Pell
2. 29:41 NU 3 Sara Webber (5) 5 Leigh Shea/9 Mari Creatini
3. 62:12 NU 9 Mari Creatini (21) Unassisted
