By James Duffy, sports editor
It took over 86 minutes of play, but the Northeastern University (NU) field hockey team defeated Providence College 1-0 in double overtime at Dedham Field on Friday, Sept. 9.
Sophomore forward June Curry-Lindahl was the hero, scoring the lone goal of the game. She took a feed from sophomore forward Laura MacLachlan and found the back of the net to give the Huskies the win.
“Providence was a great team tonight,” Northeastern head coach Cheryl Murtagh told GoNU after the game. “I knew it would be a tough game with them, and I’m just happy our team was able to finish like that.”
It was the second goal of the year for Curry-Lindahl, and the win improved the Huskies record to 3-2 for the season.
“I was just staying in front of the goal,” Curry-Lindahl said. “I just wanted the ball to be in so much.”
Senior goalkeeper Becky Garner blocked eight shots in net for Northeastern, earning her second shutout of the season. Garner continued her red-hot start, as she leads the Colonial Athletic Association in goals allowed average and is second in save percentage.
“I thought Becky played really well for us. She came up with some key saves,” Murtagh said. “It gave the defense more confidence […] our defense held on, and that’s what you need when you’re not putting the ball in.”
The defense in front of the netminder was strong as well. Early in the second half, senior midfielder Alyssa Carlson made a defensive save of her own.
Next weekend, the Huskies will look to extend their winning streak against a pair of cross-town rivals. On Friday, Sept. 16, they’ll travel to Cambridge to take on the Crimson of Harvard University before returning home to Dedham Field to host the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Last season, NU struggled against these two teams, losing to Harvard 1-0 and BC 6-1.
“We’ve got to keep our defense going, our goalkeeping going, our passing game,” Murtagh said. “We know we have a tough weekend next weekend, but the kids will be prepared.”
Photo courtesy Jim Pierce, Northeastern Athletics.
