Box Score  | Season Stats | Post-game Interview

DEDHAM, Mass. – Playing its third ranked opponent in the last four games, the Northeastern field hockey team (3-7) battled No. 13 Massachusetts to a scoreless tie through the first 35 minutes of play, but a pair of second half tallies sent the Minutewomen past the Huskies on Wednesday night at Dedham Field.

Molly MacDonell and Alexa Sikalis both recorded goals to lead UMass (8-4), which held an 11-7 edge in shots during the contest, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Becky Garner made three saves in goal for NU, while her counterpart Sam Carlino also made three saves.

The teams played an even first half, with the squads trading possession during a lot of play in the midfield.  The Minutewomen earned consecutive penalty corners, two of their seven on the night, late in the first half, peppering Garner with shots from all angles. The freshman netminder, however, along with the play of backs Alyssa Carlson and Zoe Kale, stood her ground to turn away each UMass bid and send the teams into halftime scoreless.

Coming out of intermission, Massachusetts took a 1-0 lead just 62 seconds into the second half when MacDonnell netted her third goal of the season. MacDonnell, who was stationed in front of the cage when a loose ball popped out to her, was able to handle the ball quickly before sending a shot into the right side of the net for the score.

UMass would extend its lead to two  12 minutes later as Sikalis deposited her first goal of the season when she dribbled into the shooting circle from the right side and fired a reverse shot past Garner for a 2-0 Minutewomen lead.

Following a Northeastern timeout after the Sikalis score, the Huskies began to put pressure on Carlino and the Minutewoman defense with six shots during the second half. NU, which earned four of their five penalty corners during the final 35 minutes of play, tried to set up Emmy Zweserijn for chances at the top of the circle, but Northeastern was unable to convert.

Late in regulation, senior captain Lindsay Bennett forced a turnover at midfield and sprinted towards the attacking third, but the speed of the Minutewomen defense caught up to Bennett, forcing her to find Zweserijn trailing the play for a shot that trickled wide.

The Huskies will be back in action on Sunday when Northeastern welcomes La Salle to Dedham Field for a 1 p.m. game.