Second-Half Surge Falls Short at James Madison, 5-2

Friday, September 16

Harrisonburg, VA

6 PM

University of New Hampshire

(2-5)

James Madison University

(4-2)

New Hampshire

JMU

9/16/2016 9:14:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The University of New Hampshire field hockey team controlled the majority of play in the second half but couldn't overtime a three-goal halftime deficit in Friday night's 5-2 loss to James Madison University at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

GAME INFO
Date: September 16, 2016
Location: James Madison Field Hockey Complex (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Attendance: 179
Score: James Madison University 5, UNH 2
Updated Records: JMU (4-2), UNH (2-5)

NEXT GAME: Sunday, Sept. 25 at Northeastern University, 2 pm
NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Albany, 2 pm

1^st Half

JMU scored goals 3:09 apart to quickly take a 2-0 lead. Miranda Rigg redirected the ball into the cage at the right post to score the first goal of the game at 13:40. Melanie Kusakavitch stole the ball outside the 25 and dribbled alone on goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert (North Grafton, Mass.), whom she beat with a shot top-shelf.
Florien Sondern extended the lead the 3-0 at 23:14.
JMU entered halftime with that three-goal lead, as well as an 8-1 shot advantage and 4-0 edge in penalty corners.
"In the first half we played tentative," 26^th-year head coach Robin Balducci said. "We were hesitant and playing back on our heels."

2^nd Half

UNH struck first to trim the deficit to 3-1 on the first career goal for sophomore Rachel Bossi (Chelmsford, Mass. at 45:31.
"We settled in in the second half and we outshot and out-cornered them," Balducci said. "I was very pleased with how we played in the second half. We came out hard."
The home team reestablished a three-goal cushion, however, on Rigg's second goal of the game almost four minutes later (at 49:57).
Junior Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario) once again lifted the 'Cats within two goals, 4-2, at 60:22.
JMU once again had a quick reply as Rigg struck again at 63:09.
New Hampshire generated a 13-11 shot advantage and 7-4 edge in corners in the last 35 minutes.

'CAT NIPS

Mendonca, who is now tied atop UNH's team leaderboard in goals with Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) at six, was also credited with a defensive save.
Rudert finished the game with seven saves, as did JMU goalie Sara Kraeutler.

UNH NOTEBOOK

New Hampshire has lost three straight, all on the road.

SHOTS: UNH 1-13–14. JMU 8-11–19.

PENALTY CORNERS: UNH 0-7–7. JMU 4-4–8.

GOALS
UNH (2): Rachel Bossi, Ashley Mendonca
JMU (5): Miranda Rigg (3), Melanie Kusakavitch, Florien Sondern

ASSISTS
UNH (0)
JMU (1): Hannah Hall (2), Melissa Wilken

SAVES
UNH: Kelsey Rudert 7 (70:00; 5 GA)
JMU: Sara Kraeutler 7 (70:00; 2 GA)

DEFENSIVE SAVES
UNH (1): Ashley Mendonca
JMU (0)