Field Hockey Falls to No. 2 UConn, 3-0

Friday, September 12

4 pm

University of New Hampshire

(1-4)

University of Connecticut

(4-0)

Connecticut

New Hampshire

9/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire goalkeeper Carlie Tarbell (Wakefield, Mass.) held the University of Connecticut field hockey team scoreless in the second half, but the second-ranked Huskies struck three times in the first half in Friday afternoon's 3-0 victory at Memorial Field.

New Hampshire is now 1-4 on the season with three losses to teams currently in the top 11 of the national poll. UConn is 4-0 and has won 12 straight dating back to last season's run to the national title.

Tarbell finished with six saves and UConn counterpart Nina Klein recorded one save for her third consecutive shutout. The goal scorers were Anna Middendorf, Chloe Hunnable and Charlotte Veitner.

UConn tallied a 15-4 shot advantage, including 11-1 in the first half, but the Wildcats had a 6-4 edge in penalty corners.

The Huskies pressured in the opening minutes with Veitner being denied from close range by Tarbell and Hunnable firing the rebound wide left of the cage. Chrissy Davidson corralled a loose ball at the top of the circle and her rising shot was knocked aside by Tarbell's blocker.

UNH generated its first penetration into the circle in the eighth minute when Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.) advanced along the left wing to the end line. She cut toward the middle of the circle but a UConn defender tackled the ball to end the threat.

Connecticut earned a penalty corner in the 10^th minute and Middendorf's low, direct shot was stopped by Tarbell. Hunnable's shot off the rebound was blocked by a 'Cat defender but the visitors were awarded a second corner. Middendorf's low drive was deflected by McKenzie Townsend, but that was also stopped by a Wildcat before reaching Tarbell.

In the 14^th minute, Lynne Lehman (Landisburg, Pa.) entered the game and immediately had a scoring chance by entering the circle on the right side. She struck a low blast through traffic, but the ball went untouched and rolled wide left.

UConn converted its next corner into a 1-0 lead at 20:45. From the top of the circle, Roisin Upton pushed a pass to the left side, where Middendorf sent a low drive inside the far post.

The Wildcats generated a corner in the 25^th minute, but the shot off the stick of Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) was ruled dangerously high. Three minutes later, Nerbonne advanced into the circle along the right end line and centered the ball to Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.), who had her back to the cage and lost possession.

Hunnable extended the advantage to 2-0 at 28:57. Veitner initiated the scoring sequence as she cut left-to-right, but Tarbell shadowed her across the goalmouth to make a diving save. Hunnable collected the rebound in front and shoveled the ball into the open cage.

Veitner made it 3-0 at 33:02 when she dribbled along the right end line and blasted a rising shot inside the far post.

UNH had three consecutive corners in the 37^th minute but recorded just one shot, and that was when Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Md.) received a direct pass on the left side and hit a diagonal ball through traffic that rolled wide of the far post.

Flatley once again pressured for the 'Cats along the right endline in the 42^nd minute, but she pushed the ball wide of the near post.

In the 50^th minute, Davidson lofted a pass over the New Hampshire defense from midfield and Sophie Bowden corralled the bounding ball alone on the left side of the circle. After a couple of touches, Bowden blasted a low shot that Tarbell turned aside.

UNH recorded its only shot on goal in the 61^st minute, when Nerbonne collected a pass on the top-right side and fired a rising line drive that Klein steered away with her blocker.

New Hampshire returns to action Sept. 14 (2 p.m.) at Northeastern University. The Wildcats' next home game is Sept. 21 (12 p.m.) against Hofstra University.