Field Hockey Outlasts Providence, 2-1

Friday, September 25

Durham, NH..

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

(3-5)

Providence College

(1-8)

Providence College

New Hampshire

9/25/2015 6:07:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) and Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) scored one goal apiece and the University of New Hampshire field hockey team fended off Providence College to record a 2-1 victory Friday afternoon at Memorial Field.

UNH improved to 3-5 overall and 2-0 at home this season. PC fell to 1-8 overall and 0-5 on the road. The Wildcats recorded a 12-7 shot advantage, including 8-4 in the second half, while the penalty corners were even at 4.

Newbonne broke a scoreless tie in the 16^th minute and Bensaia increased the lead to 2-0 in the 44^th minute. Taylor Rideout (Barrington, R.I.) was credited with an assist on Nerbonne's tally. Melissa Rize (Severn, Md.) was credited with two saves, both of which came in the first half.

Emily Matthews potted PC's goal just two minutes after the 'Cats took a 2-0 lead to quickly pull the Friars back within one goal. Goalie Megan Guilbert stopped five shots, including four in the second half.

New Hampshire pressured early in the game and generated a corner in the third minute, but Nerbonne's direct shot from the top of the circle was blocked by an onrushing PC defender. One minute later, Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.) dribbled on the right wing and her diagonal entry pass went to the low left side, where Katie Audino (Severn, Md.) settled the ball and was denied by Guilbert.

UNH took a 1-0 lead at 16:27 when Rideout gained possession at midfield and quickly sent a through ball ahead to Nerbonne. She entered at the top of the circle and dodged to the left to avoid Guilbert, who was charging off the goal line. Nerbonne settled the ball and rifled a reverse-stick shot past two defenders into the cage for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Providence produced its first scoring threat in the 22^nd minute, when Megan Hamilton penetrated on the right side and fired a low, hard shot that was kicked back out by Rize. Hamilton corralled the ball off the rebound, however, and immediately sent a reverse-stick shot toward goal that Rize once again turned away.

Two minutes later, the Wildcats were awarded another corner. This time, they swung the ball to the top left, where Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Md.) struck a low shot that rolled wide of the far post.

In the closing minute of the first half, PC's Emily Matthews eluded a defender on a drive along the right end line, but Rize came out to challenge and poke checked the ball away to nullify the scoring threat.

UNH went into halftime leading 1-0 with a 4-3 shot advantage and 2-0 edge in corners.

The Friars generated their first corner of the game in the 42^nd minute and Matthews inserted the ball directly to the top left, where Corinne Kenney's shot was blocked by a Wildcat.

The 'Cats quickly advanced the ball to the other end of the field and gained a corner that produced a 2-0 lead at 43:38. Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.) initiated the scoring sequence with the insert to the stick-stop, Bensaia. Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario), in lieu of taking the direct shot, slipped a pass to the left side for Hozza. She, in turn, settled the ball and snapped a pass back across the top of the circle to Bensaia, who blasted a low shot into the near side of the cage.

Providence converted its next penalty corner into a goal to trim the deficit to 2-1 at 46:44. The battery of Matthews and Natalie Mitchell sit up Abby Thornton's direct shot that was blocked in front. Matthews swatted the ball out of mid-air halfway up the cage.

In the 49^th minute, Rideout carried the ball into the top of the circle struck a low, hard shot that Guilbert stopped with her right leg pad. On minute later, it was the Friars on the attack. Hamilton drove along the right end line and Rize's presence force the ball to trickle out of bounds just before Hamilton's crossing pass found Matthews alone at the left post.

With eight minutes remaining, Audino sent a shot from the top of the circle toward the left post, but Guilbert made the diving save. The 'Cats immediately regained possession and Audino, this time from the top left, struck a dangerous reverse-stick shot that was blocked by a defender. Another PC turnover sent Flatley down the middle of the field and, with Guilbert sliding toward the loose ball, she lofted a shot just wide of the left post.

The Friars called time out with 6:05 to play. Moments later, Adrienne Houle's pass from the right sideline near midfield split a pair of 'Cats and was collected by Mitchell at the top of the circle. Rize read the play and denied a shot by once again tapping the ball away before Mitchell could get a shot.

With 3:30 on the clock, Carroll droved a low shot from the middle of the circle that was stopped by Guilbert, who also denied Carroll off the rebound.

The Friars were awarded consecutive corners with just over one minute remaining. On the second corner, Emma Lucas lifted a direct shot that ricocheted off the left post with 53 seconds to play to keep the score 2-1.

UNH kept Providence at bay the rest of the way.

New Hampshire returns to action Sept. 26 for its America East conference opener against UMass Lowell. Game time at Memorial Field is 2 p.m.