By Tyler Blint-Welsh, news correspondent
Following its 11-game winning streak, the Northeastern field hockey team struggled to get back to its winning ways as the women lost their second consecutive match on Friday to the University of Delaware before getting the win on Sunday against Towson University.
Though the Huskies lost 3-2, Head Coach Cheryl Murtagh felt that her team played well.
“I think that the team came out strong versus Delaware,” she said. “They were well-prepared and had good energy, but we didn’t execute on penalty corners. We played well, but we didn’t make enough plays to win.”
In a rematch of last season’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship game, the Huskies were able to strike first on an unassisted goal by junior forward Vanessa Pryor just over 15 minutes into the match. A mere 40 seconds later, however, Delaware’s junior midfielder Michaela Patzner was able to score the equalizer, converting on a penalty shot that managed to make its way past sophomore goalkeeper Becky Garner. At the 29:12 mark of the first half, Patzner netted her second goal of the game on a penalty corner off an assist from sophomore midfielder Esmée Peet, giving the Blue Hens the lead.
But playing from behind is something the girls have gotten accustomed to over the course of this season and the Huskies were able to tie the game at the 48:10 mark on sophomore forward Emmy Zweserijn’s fifth goal of the season. Though the Huskies were able to get nine shots on goal, Murtagh said they failed to convert those shots to goals.
The nail in the coffin came with just under five minutes to go, as Delaware’s junior forward Jacki Coveleski was able to score on an assist by Patzner.
Against Towson, however, Northeastern seemed to turn a new leaf.
The 3-0 shutout victory was a welcome sight, but Murtagh was not completely satisfied.
“That should have been a 6-0 game, but we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities,” she said.
Like they did against Delaware, the Huskies were able to strike first against Towson on a goal by senior midfielder Marisa Dunn. This time, Northeastern did not relinquish its lead.
Compared to its previous two losses, Murtagh felt that the team improved on passing.
“I felt like we were a little bit more mobile in the passing game and hit the open player when the player was free and overall moved the ball pretty well,” she said.
As a result of their improved passing, the Huskies registered a season-high 27 shots on Sunday and put forth a defensive effort to boot.
The Huskies’ swarming defense limited Towson to only two total shots, which is the fewest shots taken against Northeastern this season. Behind strong plays by junior midfielder Zoe Kale, sophomore midfielder Hannah Wein and redshirt senior back Kaci Coveleski, the team was able to neutralize Towson’s offense for the entirety of the game.
The Huskies play on Friday at 5 p.m. at Dedham Field against James Madison University on Northeastern’s annual Senior Day.
Photo courtesy Zack Williamson, Northeastern Athletics
