By Evans Erilus
BROOKLINE – The women’s soccer team entered Friday’s contest against conference-leading New Hampshire on the heels of a four game winless streak that saw them score only one goal in that time span.
Still, Northeastern also entered the contest undefeated at home this season, so something had to give.
Unfortunately, it was the Huskies.
Sophomore Chiara Best scored the game’s lone goal near the end of the first half, giving UNH (7-4-0, 3-0-0 America East) a 1-0 victory over NU (4-6-3, 0-2-1 AE). Best took a pass into the NU area of the field with only Husky goalkeeper Cynthia Slowik in her path. Slowik came to the top of the box to deflect the shot, but Best dribbled passed her and kicked the ball into an open net for the score at the 42:24 mark. The score was her second of the season.
Northeastern head coach Ed Matz was pleased with how his team executed during the contest, but admitted that Best’s score was demoralizing.
“UNH is regarded as one of the top two teams in the America East,” he said. “They bring tremendous energy, and we worked on that. We came up very strong, [and] then UNH settled in and played very strong.
“The goal we gave up was a heartbreaker,” he continued. “One of our girls went off to the side with an injury, and that is how they scored their goal.”
NU had few scoring opportunities in the second half after New Hampshire intensified its defense and spent much of the half on the Northeastern side of the field. Sophomore Jen North missed early in the second half, and a breakaway was nullified by an offsides call about a minute later.
“We played outstanding in the second half, but couldn’t capitalize,” Matz said.
The Huskies, usually an aggressive, physical unit, came out with some additional intensity because of the implications of the contest.
“That’s how we try to play,” said sophomore midfielder Tanya Mello. “Knowing that it was UNH, we came out a little stronger.”
Matz agreed, saying responsibility rests on the younger players at Northeastern more so than at other programs.
“We really wanted to win, and brought a lot of emotion,” he said.
“Andi [Matthews, a defender] is a sophomore. She is forced into a leadership role. Liz Dyjak, Jen North
