Cookman, Knuttel Score Two Goals Each in 6-2 Win at Bryant

Friday, September 27

Smithfield, R.I.

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

(3-6, 1-0)

Bryant

(3-5, 0-1)

New Hampshire

Bryant

Photo by: Katie Sheridan

9/27/2024 5:52:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Tasmin Cookman (London, England) and Kathelijne Knuttel (Groningen, Netherlands) scored two goals apiece to lead the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Friday afternoon's 6-2 victory against Bryant University at Cowen Field.

Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) and Faye Meijer (Purmerend, Netherlands) both recorded a goal and an assist.

UNH starting goalie Abby Johnson (Walpole, Mass.) was credited with one save and allowed two goals in 40 minutes, 13 seconds. Kerigan Ross (Baltimore, Md.) stopped the only shot on goal she faced in 19:47.

Caitlin Gallagher and Eva Boogers scored the Bryant goals. Bulldogs' starting goalie Maud van Lierop allowed four goals in 40:13 and Sara DeSousa was charged with two goals against; both goalies made two saves.

UNH improved to 3-6 overall and 1-0 in America East. Bryant is 3-5, 0-1.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats return to action Sept. 29 (2 p.m.) against Providence College for the start of eight consecutive games at Memorial Field.

FIRST QUARTER

UNH controlled play in the opening 11 minutes of the game with all five shots and four penalty corners going to the Wildcats.
Gallagher corralled a long hit on the right wing, entered the circle and lifted a shot over Johnson inside the far post to give PC a 1-0 lead at 11:02.
Meijer, near the right post, knocked the ball out of midair to level the score, 1-1, at 14:12. Julia Graves (Topsfield, Mass.) earned the assist with her chip from the end line.

SECOND QUARTER

UNH was awarded a penalty stroke at 17:42 and Poulakis lifted a shot inside the left post to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 2-1.
The 'Cats earned a corner in the 23^rd minute and sustained pressure led to Knuttel's goal and 3-1 lead at 22:42. Her initial shot from the top of the circle was blocked high into the air but was settled on the right side by Poulakis, who pushed past a defender and touched the ball to Knuttel. She fired a reverse shot into the middle of the cage.

THIRD QUARTER

Bryant capitalized on a corner to trim the deficit to 3-2 at 37:25. Boogers inserted a short corner to Filou Verhoeven, who quickly sent a return pass down low that Boogers redirected into the cage.
Cookman stole the ball just outside the 25-yard line and beat another defender to attack down the middle of the circle. With van Lierop charging off the line, Cookman pulled the ball around her to the left and swept a shot into the open cage to reestablish a two-goal lead, 4-2, at 39:43.
Knuttel struck again with 90 seconds on the clock to extend the advantage to 5-2. She also stole the ball outside the 25 and sent the ball ahead to Meijer. She split a pair of defenders and maneuvered past another on the left end line before slipping a centering pass at the goalmouth to Knuttel, who tapped a shot into the open cage.

FOURTH QUARTER

Cookman capped the scoring at 52:05 when she corralled a pass near midfield and balanced the ball on her stick in the air twice – for distances of five and seven yards – before letting the ball roll into the top-left of the circle and blasting a low shot into the cage.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Knuttel extended her goal-scoring streak to four games. She has scored a goal in 7 of 9 games this season.
It was her first career multiple-goal game and the four points marked a personal best.
Knuttel leads the team in both goals (eight) and points (17); the eight goals exceeds her freshman season total of six.
Cookman now has 10 multiple-goal games in her career – one this season.
She ranks second in both goals (four) and points (11).
Poulakis has an assist each of the last two games; the three points are a season high.
Meijer has scored a goal in back-to-back games and she has a three-game point streak.
She finished with a career-high three points.
Graves recorded her first career point with the assist on UNH's first goal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS