Northeastern mounted a furious second-half rally, including earning five penalty corners in the final 10 minutes, but the Huskies season came to an abrupt end with a 2-1 loss to host Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament Saturday at the Sherman Sports Complex in Storrs.
The three-time defending America East champions finished with a 17-6 overall record after losing for the first time to UConn in postseason play. NU had defeated Connecticut the three previous meetings in the NCAA tournament.
"I think in the beginning of the season we didn't know what kind of team we had after losing six seniors, but the three of us (Melissa Rowell, Leigh Shea and Sara Webber) were excited about being captains," said Rowell. "The team really came together at the end and I couldn't be prouder to be a Northeastern field hockey player."
Know one knew quite what to expect from the Huskies this season, losing six seniors, including two All-Americans, and only returning three. But, the team chemistry developed as the season went on and the 2003 campaign was as memorable as any in recent memory. The Huskies won their third straight America East regular-season and tournament championships. Junior Mari Creatini led the country in both points (72) and goals (29), while breaking both the NU single-season points and goals records. Junior Diana Nelson had nine shutouts in goal with the help of a strong defensive corps. Creatini and Shea were named the 2003 America East Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively, while coach Cheryl Murtagh was the 2003 America East Coach of the Year.
"We lost six seniors," said Murtagh. "I knew we would be decent, but didn't think we'd be where we are today. That's why I'm so proud of these kids. They worked hard and got better every week of the seaon. Unfortunately things didn't work out the way we wanted today."
Northeastern jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a goal from sophomore Jay Quinn 3:21 into the action. The UConn defense tried to clear the ball out of their zone, but Quinn found the loose ball and fired it into the back of the cage. Junior Alli Bolster started the play with a shot from just inside the right circle that UConn goalie Maureen Butler (six saves) was forced to make a kick save on.
"Alli took a great shot and the ball just deflected out to me," said Quinn. "It was kind of a blur. The ball was there and I knocked it in."
Connecticut responded quickly with a goal off a penalty corner from Lauren Henderson which tied the game at the 25:11 mark. Henderson's shot deflected off an NU defender's stick and sailed over an outstretched Nelson (eight saves).
Mary Jo Malone gave UConn a 2-1 advantage seven minutes later, when she one-time a pass from Laura Puddle inside the far post with 17:25 left in the first half.
"We started out really strong and managed to take the lead," said Murtagh. "But then I thought we were sitting back and being too tentative after we scored that goal and UConn was able to take advantage of that."
UConn led, 2-1, at the break and held a 6-2 shot advantage and 2-1 edge in penalty corners.
Although Northeastern's offense threatened the majority of the second half, it was UConn which drew the first three penalty corners of the half. Nelson was tested three times, but came up with save after save to keep NU within striking distance.
Midway through the second period, NU took over and dominated the action, playing with intensity and a sense of urgency. At 16:40, Webber fired a great penalty-corner shot, that Butler stopped. At 10:04 it was Quinn, who was denied on a shot off a penalty-corner play. With 6:04 left, Creatini let loose a shot that rolled just wide of the post.
Then the Huskies turned the pressure up another notch on UConn. With just 3:30 left in regulation, Webber rocketed a shot off a penalty-corner that beat Butler, but UConn's Becky Helwig knocked the ball out of mid-air to save the game. NU was awarded one more penalty corner with 60 ticks on the clock, but was thwarted for the last time, as time expired on the Northeastern season.
"Of course we'd like to have finished better, but we still won the America East and have a lot to be proud of," said Shea.
Northeastern (17-6) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Connecticut (17-5) -------------------------------
Date: Nov 15, 2003 Attendance: 400 Northeastern........ 1 0 - 1
Weather: Windy and cold Connecticut......... 2 0 - 2
Northeastern Connecticut
Pos # Player Sh G A DS Pos # Player Sh G A DS
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
3 Sara Webber......... 4 - - - 1 Maureen Butler...... - - - -
4 Liane Dixon......... 1 - - - 3 Jennifer Lozito..... - - - -
5 Leigh Shea.......... - - - - 7 April Cornell....... - - - -
9 Mari Creatini....... 1 - - - 8 Lauren Henderson.... 10 1 - -
15 Melissa Rowell...... - - - - 10 Kelly Stolle........ 1 - - -
19 Jay Quinn........... 3 1 - - 14 Laura Puddle........ 1 - 1 -
20 Alli Bolster........ 1 - - - 18 Abby Ostruzka....... 1 - 1 -
22 Lauren Edelmeier.... - - - - 19 Becky Helwig........ 2 - - -
24 Whitney Shean....... 1 - - - 20 Mary Jo Malone...... 3 1 1 -
27 Megan Troxel........ - - - - 27 Brianna Clark....... - - - -
77 Diana Nelson........ - - - - 28 Laura Thibodeau..... - - - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
Totals.............. 11 1 0 0 22 Meagan Hoffmann..... - - - -
Totals.............. 18 2 3 0
Northeastern Connecticut
# Player MIN GA Saves # Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
77 Diana Nelson........ 70:00 2 8 1 Maureen Butler...... 70:00 1 6
TM TEAM................ 0:00 0 1
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Northeastern........ 2 9 - 11 Northeastern........ 2 6 - 8
Connecticut......... 6 12 - 18 Connecticut......... 1 6 - 7
Penalty corners 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Northeastern........ 1 7 - 8
Connecticut......... 2 3 - 5
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 3:21 NU Jay Quinn Unassisted off rebound
2. 9:49 UCONN Lauren Henderson Mary Jo Malone; Abby Ostruzka off corner
3. 17:15 UCONN Mary Jo Malone Laura Puddle cross though circle
PLAYER CARDS:
GC-UCONN #18 (32:49)
