Poland scored two goals against the Terriers during Sunday’s game at Sweeney Field.
The game was particularly special for the six seniors who played their last home game of the regular season and junior midfielder Olivia Bass who celebrated her birthday that day. Senior midfielders Kaela Barker, Pam Aldridge and Carolyn Malloy, backs Keelin Quinn and Beth Cobby and forward Annie Clayman were all honored in a pregame ceremony with flowers, photos and family support.
Poland chose to honor the seniors in her own way by singing the Canadian national anthem. The junior is one of six Canadian players on the roster, all of whom reside in British Columbia. She was inspired by the team’s decision to play the German national anthem at last year’s senior game to honor then senior Anne-Rieke Stuhlmann.
“I’m really close with the Canadians on the team,” Poland said. “We’re all from the same area and knew each other before coming here. I thought it was more personal to sing the national anthem myself instead of just playing something.”
Poland also said the ceremony was very emotional for everyone involved. Head coach Cheryl Murtagh said the seniors this year are a great group.
“They are some of the best leaders that I have had at Northeastern,” Murtagh said. “I credit them with the team’s progress.”
Aldridge began the scoring against the Terriers just over seven minutes in the game when she shot off of a penalty corner assisted by Barker. Junior forward Nicky Graham followed in her footsteps scoring 2:16 later.
The second half began 2-0 and stayed that way until Poland scoredher first goal at 41:38. BU’s Jacinda McLeod responded with a goal five minutes later bringing the score to 3-1. Poland then made one more goal at 63:04 off the rebound of her blocked shot. This brought the score up to 4-1 and the Northeastern fans to their feet singing “Na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye” to the opposition.
Malloy and Graham also assisted Poland off a penalty corner in Sunday’s game against Boston University. Malloy is nationally ranked fifth for her 17 assists this season.
Poland said she is positive about the team’s current confidence level after this past weekend’s games. The team defeated the Hofstra University Pride Friday, even with Hofstra’s Genna Kovar who was then the nation’s top scorer. Poland said that playing against her was “nerve racking” but that she chose to focus on the team’s goal of beating Hofstra.
“To be second in CAA, winning this game was crucial,” Poland said.
She contributed two goals to the team’s victory, both off penalty corners and assists by Malloy and Graham. Malloy earned a third assist when Barker scored her fourth goal of the season.
The Huskies ended their home season undefeated after seven games and brought their overall record to 12-5. They are now second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) falling behind Old Dominion by one and a half games.
Murtagh said the team’s seven game winning streak is good but she is more impressed by the team’s performance.
“The team just keeps getting better and playing better,” she said. “We want to see good performances and consistency.”
She talked about not paying attention to national rankings at this time, as the team is more concerned about winning two conference games next weekend against Drexel University and Towson University.
Poland said that the team has a solid confidence level right now.
“We believe in ourselves and everyone else on the team,” she said. “We are in a great spot.”
