Box score

Despite a valiant effort and junior Crystal Poland's third hat trick of the season, the Northeastern field hockey team lost its first conference clash of the season in a 4-3 set back at William & Mary on Friday night.

Poland netted the first two tallies of the contest and added her third goal in the second half, but a late goal by Jeltje Loomans was the difference maker to help the Tribe to victory.

After being held scoreless in the last two games (the only two games all season Poland hasn't scored), Poland stormed back with her third hat trick to up her season goals total to 16 and points total to 35 (16-3-35).

The Tribe held a commanding lead in shots, 22-10, while junior goaltender Lizzie Priest made seven stops in match. Camilla Hill rejected seven Huskies' attempts for the win.

The Crofton, British Columbia native set the precedent after smacking a shot in straight from a corner at 1:41. Senior Carolyn Malloy and junior Nicky Graham set up the play from atop the zone allowing Poland to put Northeastern ahead early.

The two sides exchanged possessions before Poland doubled the Huskies' lead with another rip off a corner at 20:27. Senior Kaela Barker and Malloy teamed up with the assists to put Poland in position for her second marker of the evening.

The remainder of the first half fell scoreless, but William & Mary opened the second half with a vengeance. Ashley Kyle and Allison Moran notched their first goals of the season at 53:02 and 56:09, respectively, while Brittany Hopkins provided the help on both goals. Hopkins crossed the ball in deep to Kyle who proceeded to deflect it to the far side past Priest. Moran's goal also came off a deflection from Hopkins' attempt.

Poland capped off the hat trick with a penalty stoke goal at 60:06, but Willam & Mary's Emma Clifton and Loomans had their final say at 62:37 and 68:57, in that order, to capture the 4-3 triumph.

Maria Caro made the dish along the top of the circle to Clifton for the tying goal while Loomans buried the game-winning goal off of a corner with a shot from the weak side.

Northeastern continues CAA competition with a trip to Norfolk, Va. to face the top-ranked team in the country, Old Dominion. The Lady Monarchs are 9-0 while Northeastern rolls into town with a 5-4 mark. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.