Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

BOSTON – Despite contesting a high-scoring thriller against New Hampshire on Friday during the opening round of Boston University's Terrier Classic, the Northeastern field hockey team ended the day on the wrong side of the game's winning goal as the Huskies succumbed to the Wildcats, 5-4, during the fifth minute of overtime.
 
Neither Northeastern (0-1) nor New Hampshire (1-0) held a lead larger than one goal during the back-and forth season opener, which featured four tie scores and a narrow, 17-16 shot margin that barely pointed in favor of the Wildcats. The Huskies received scoring from four different players, most notably by freshman Camille O'Conor, who punched in her first career goal during the 65th minute to knot the game at 4-4 and send it to overtime.
 
New Hampshire broke through with the game's first goal during the 13th minute, polishing off the second of two penalty corners after Julia Ennis had made a diving save on the first. Nicky Bajus completed the sequence from the top of the circle, striking a ball from Rachel Bossi that put the Wildcats ahead, 1-0.
 
Five minutes later, Northeastern had come up with the answer as Ffion Thompson directed in a penalty stroke, evening the game at one goal apiece.
 
Kellie Stigas provided the Huskies with a boost heading into the locker room, redirecting in a right-to-left ball from June Curry-Lindahl during the 30th minute. Stigas' goal gave Northeastern a 2-1 lead, despite NU trailing the Wildcats, 9-7, in shots at the time.
 
UNH opened the second half's scoring with a goal by Kaite Audino during the 46th minute, only to have the Huskies regain the lead four minutes later on Curry-Lindahl's breakaway beauty. Within 40 seconds, Audino again held the response, this time completing a ball from Erin McNamara to tie the game at 3-3.
 
New Hampshire caught a fortunate break during the 58th minute, when Ashley Mendonca's shot from outside the circle took a deflection past Northeastern goalkeeper Julia Gluyas, who had subbed on for Ennis at halftime.
 
Applying the pressure, NU drew level once more on O'Conor's second-effort goal during the 65th minute, an unassisted try that took place in the wake of Kelsey Rudert's initital denial.
 
Despite the change of momentum, UNH thwarted the Huskies' lone overtime shot and scored on its first attempt of extra time as Bossi redirected a shot from Bloe van den Brekel for the game-winner.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will play in the Terrier Classic consolation game on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 1 p.m. against the loser of Friday's semifinal game between Bryant and the tournament host, Boston University.