Liane Dixon is not one to steal the spotlight. The senior Husky forward would rather revel in the success of the whole Northeastern field hockey team as it continues to increase its win total with a 6-0 record on the young season.
For Dixon’s own efforts, however, including two goals in the second half of a 4-0 victory over Quinnipiac on Friday, and a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory the next day over Holy Cross, she has been named The Northeastern News Player of the Week.
“This has been more of a team effort,” Dixon, who was named the America East Player of the Week for the second consecutive time on Tuesday, said. “The team is getting some goals from some really good sophomores that have adjusted to the team very well. Everyone’s coming together because it’s still real early in the season.”
Dixon assisted in every goal in the Huskies’ first victory of last week over Quinnipiac.
She inbounded the ball from the corner to Alli Bolster, who set up a strong shot for junior forward Mari Creatini and the games first goal.
Dixon then commanded the offense the rest of the contest, scoring the final three goals, including one in the first half (assisted by Creatini), and two in the second.
Michaela O’Malley, a redshirt freshman, set up a lateral pass for Dixon for the 3-0 lead, and Dixon went in alone for an unassisted goal to end her memorable day.
“I think the underclassmen have been more vocal and are talking to us more as teammates,” Dixon said. “Whether it’s a defensive or attacking situation, everybody is listening and understanding where other people are coming from.”
In the team’s second win in two days over previously undefeated Holy Cross (4-1), Dixon assisted on the second goal of the game, Creatini’s fifth score of the season.
Dixon then added her sixth goal of the season at 55:27 mark, once again adding to the Huskies’ late-game scoring and securing another win.
So far this season, Dixon has six goals and three assists for 15 points. She has also tallied 20 shots.
For the team’s third straight shutout, Dixon, along with teammates, has been focusing on the impact of defense and goaltending.
“The focus is always on defense,” Dixon said. “I think it’s getting stronger game by game and the team defense is certainly keeping its communication and cohesion up so far.”
A native of Vineyard Haven, Mass. Dixon has been an offensive force for Northeastern since she entered the program in 2001.
She became the fifth player ever in Husky history to be named America East Rookie of the Year in 2001, when she was second on the team with 11 goals and 28 points.
In 2002, she played in all 23 games, being selected a Northeast Region All-American after tallying 17 goals (14th in nation) and three assists for 37 points. Dixon was on the America East All-Conference team after leading the America East in goals per game and third in points per game (1.61).
Last year, Dixon had 12 goals and two assists (26 points), and was a key component of many of the team wins, including two goals against 4th-seeded Boston University in the team’s 3-1 America East semifinal victory.
— Jeff Powalisz, News Staff
