By Danielle Osscher
After two weeks of working out the kinks, the field hockey team is getting back to what they do best – winning.
The Huskies defeated Quinnipiac in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Hamden, Conn. Wednesday night. This game marked its last of a five game road trip, and improved its record to 2-3.
The game was scoreless heading into the second half, with senior goaltender Liz Centofanti recording four saves off seven Quinnipiac shots. The Bobcats held the Huskies to three shots in the first half, allowing two penalty corners while NU allowed four.
Quinnipiac scored the first goal of the game in the ninth minute of the second half after capitalizing on a penalty corner. Three minutes later, freshman midfielder Pam Aldridge beat Bobcats’ goaltender Jenna Grossman on the breakaway, scoring on the left side to tie things up.
Within three minutes, the Huskies hit net again, scoring the go-ahead goal off a penalty corner. Junior midfielder Ashley Bascetta connected a pass from senior midfielder Ashley D’Ambra, converting one of the team’s five corners into the game-winning goal.
“We knew what we had to get done today, and we did it,” Centofanti said. “We just got together as a team, determined to come out with a win, and we did.”
Northeastern came into the game after suffering two rough losses last weekend against American and two-time defending National Champion Maryland. In those games, the Huskies allowed a total of 17 penalty corners, a number the team focused on decreasing against the Bobcats.
“One of our main focuses is to only limit a team to five or less penalty shots per game,” Centofanti said. “That is how most goals are scored in the college game.”
Since the beginning of the season, the team’s emphasis has been on playing stronger defense and they have continued to improve the back line. The Huskies held Quinnipiac to 11 shots, after allowing 41 total shots during the weekend. Centofanti has proved to be a strong force in the net, and is currently ranked third in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) with 29 saves on the season.
The emphasis on a strong defense has been especially important this season due to the team’s young front line. Three of the five forwards and four of the seven midfielders are freshmen.
“The freshmen have been doing an awesome job so far,” Centofanti said. “I give them a lot of credit for stepping up and getting it done. It doesn’t matter who is scoring as long as we keep putting it in the net.”
The Huskies will look to continue their balanced scoring and team defense and leave last weekend behind them. Northeastern plays its home opener this Saturday against cross-town rival Boston University, currently ranked No. 20 in the country, at Sweeney Field at 1 p.m.
In the 37 games played between the two teams, Northeatern holds a 21-16 game edge over BU.
“It’s going to be a huge game for us,” Centofanti said. “They are a huge rival. It will definitely be a good game, and hopefully we come out on top.”
After Saturday’s game, the Huskies will go on a three game road trip before returning to Boston for a six home game stretch leading into mid-October. Northeastern will face its first CAA opponent, William ‘ Mary, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.
