By By Patrick McHugh, News Staff

With the game tied at three and the final minutes winding down in the field hockey team’s match against Boston University, a mad scramble broke out in front of the net. The ball ended up on the stick of NU junior forward Pam Aldridge, who described the scene in front of the Terriers’ net with just over a minute to go.
‘We all wanted it so badly, we were so motivated to get it in,’ Aldridge said. ‘We kept shoving it down their throats and we really just wanted to get shots on net like we had been getting all game. I just took the ball and fired it to the net and it seemed to work.’
Aldridge’s technique earned her the game-winner with 1:07 to go, securing the Huskies third consecutive victory with a 4-3 decision. It was Aldridge’s second game-winning goal of the season and’ improved Northeastern’s record to 3-2.
The win comes two days after the team earned its second win of the season by defeating Quinnipiac 3-1 in Connecticut and a week after a thrilling 3-2 win in double overtime at the University of California, Berkeley.
Head coach Cheryl Murtagh spoke to the significance of the victory and the play of the team of late.
‘I think it means a lot to our team, they’ve been working hard and playing good hockey,’ Murtagh said. ‘I’m happy for the team. It’s taken a while to get to this point, and I think they’ve got to feel good about what they’re doing.’
Although the team struggled out of the gate, it’s competitiveness, especially against premier competition, has given the team confidence, said Aldridge and Murtagh.
The squad scrimmaged the defending national champion Maryland Terrapins at Sweeney Field Aug. 15 and were competitive throughout, losing in overtime 1-0.
In the season opener, No. 3 Syracuse escaped with a close 2-1 win at Sweeney on Aug. 28. The team then travelled out to Palo Alto, Calif., Sept. 4 to face Stanford, a game the Huskies also lost by one goal 1-0. Since then the Huskies have yet to lose.
Murtagh said the feeling of defeat has motivated the players and pushed them to victory.
‘It’s tough to lose no matter what,’ Murtagh said. ‘As long as we’re competitive in those games. They came out disappointed that they lost, but I think it was worth it to play that competition for a game like today. It prepared us.’
Likewise, Aldridge said coming up just short against some quality teams early on has played a part in the team’s recent winning ways.
‘We can contend with the top contenders in the country,’ Aldridge said. ‘Those games were close games. It showed us that we can win and gives us so much confidence going into the next game.’
So far the team has been led by a mix of players. Aldridge has two goals and four points on the year while sophomore forward Carolyn Malloy, a Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie selection a season ago, has two goals and two assists.
Freshman midfielder Crystal Poland has also made an impact as she leads the team in points with eight, having collected three goals and two assists. Last week she was named Co-Rookie of the Week in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
Aldridge said she is impressed with the contributions Poland has made to the team.
‘Crystal is a great team player, she’s so smooth on the field,’ Aldridge said. ‘She is very speedy up front and does good things with the ball.’
Murtagh instead spoke to the overall strength of the team.
‘What’s great about this team is that there have been quite a few that have stepped up,’ Murtagh said. ‘It’s hard for me to say one player. I feel like every day if someone isn’t doing it, there will be someone else stepping up. That’s a real positive.’
Murtagh said based on the Terriers’ game plan, it as important that all the players make plays in order to win.
‘I know BU focused in on a few players and other players stepped up,’ Murtagh said. ‘I’m excited for everybody that they are contributing.’
The team heads back out on the road for four consecutive games, beginning with Providence Wednesday and the University of Massachusetts’-Amherst Saturday. CAA play begins with a Sept. 25 contest at William & Mary. The team will not return to Sweeney Field until Sept. 30 against Harvard.
Of the team’s first nine games, only two are at home. Murtagh said the key to continuing the strong play while away from home will be to accentuate the good things the team has done.
‘They have to stay positive about what they’re doing the way they came back against a good team like BU,’ Murtagh said. ‘That stuff we have to keep in their heads.’