By Bailey Knecht, Sports Editor
After returning to campus three weeks early to begin practice, the Northeastern University field hockey team started its 2014 season at the Conference Cup in Lancaster, Pa. The four competing teams played at The Spooky Nook, the official training site of USA Field Hockey.
Coming off an 8-13 season and an appearance in the conference championships last year, the Huskies were looking to overcome tough early competition, including eight-time national champion, University of Maryland.
The weekend opened up with a game against Temple University of the Big East conference, who finished the 2013 season 14-6. The two teams hadn’t met since 1991. Temple scored quickly in the first half with another goal early in the second. The Owls went up 3-0 in the 55th minute off a goal from freshman Rachael Mueller.
Just 10 seconds after Temple’s third goal, Northeastern’s sophomore forward Emmy Zweserijn snuck a shot past Temple goalie Lizzy Millen to cut the lead back to two. Zweserijn led the team in shots in 2013 with 65 attempted goals.
However, the Huskies were unable to come back from the early deficit. Junior forward Vanessa Pryor scored with less than five minutes left in the game on an assist from sophomore forward Emma Lamison, but the team fell to the Owls 4-2.
Senior Caroline Judge had three shots in the game. The midfielder has started in the past 22 regular-season games for the Huskies. Sophomore goalkeeper Becky Garner made five saves in the game. In 2013, she finished with 111 saves, second in the CAA.
On Sunday, Northeastern suffered its second loss against the top-ranked Maryland Terrapins. The Huskies have not beat Maryland since 1993.
Despite Maryland taking 14 shots in the first 35 minutes, neither team made it on the scoreboard in the half. However, in the second half, the Terrapins went on a scoring rampage. With goals from Sarah Sprink, Maxine Fluharty and Shari Jones, Maryland took a 3-0 advantage that Northeastern could not overcome.
Senior transfer Marisa Dunn put the Huskies on the scoreboard with a goal off a penalty corner midway through the second half. The assist was awarded to Caroline Judge.
Maryland scored a final time near the end to close out the game with a 4-1 victory against Northeastern.
The young Husky team consists of primarily freshmen and sophomores with a few upperclassmen returning to provide some much-needed veteran experience. This season’s captains, seniors Caroline Judge, midfielder, Kelly Dunn, forward, and redshirt junior Kate Carlson, back, will lead the underclassmen, who have already showed immense promise. Sophomores Jessica Unger, Natalie Stewart and Becky Garner were awarded with CAA preseason honors. Five freshman have also been added to the 2014 roster.
Long time head coach Cheryl Murtagh is entering her 27th season with the Huskies. In April, she named Olivia Netzler-Gray associate head coach. Netzler-Gray is the former head coach of Robert Morris University in Illinois.
The Huskies look to improve on the rocky start to the 2014 season this weekend with their first home game of the season against the undefeated Providence College.
Photo by Zach Williamson, Northeastern Athletics
