Knuttel Records Goal and Two Defensive Saves in 3-0 Win at UAlbany

Friday, October 24

Albany, N.Y.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

(8-6, 3-1)

UAlbany

(9-6, 2-2)

New Hampshire

UAlbany

Photo by: Ryan Moran

Knuttel Records Goal and Two Defensive Saves in 3-0 Win at UAlbany

10/24/2025 8:14:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – Junior captain Kathelijne Knuttel (Groningen, Netherlands) recorded a goal and two defensive saves while senior captain Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) scored twice to lead the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Friday afternoon's 3-0 win against UAlbany at Alumni Turf.

Sophomore goalkeeper Abby Johnson (Walpole, Mass.) made eight saves for her first shutout of the season and classmate Faye Meijer (Purmerend, Netherlands) was credited with an assist.

UAlbany goalie Emma Peeters stopped five shots and allowed two goals in 53:40. UNH's third goal was scored while the Great Danes were playing with an extra field player.

UNH is now 8-6 overall and 3-1 in America East while Albany is 9-6, 2-2.

UP NEXT

UNH's next game is Oct. 26 (12pm) at Lafayette.
The Wildcats' next home game is Oct. 30 (3pm) against Bryant University for Senior Day and the regular-season finale.

FIRST QUARTER

UNH recorded the only three shots and one penalty corner in the opening 15 minutes.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on Knuttel's goal at 1:45. Tasmin Cookman (London, England) gained possession outside the 25 on the right wing and moved the ball across to the opposite side for Meijer. She continued straight down the left side of the circle and her reverse-stick hit toward the front of the cage eluded a pair of defenders before being redirected into the open cage by Knuttel.

SECOND QUARTER

UAlbany generated six corners – many of them in succession late in the quarter – and a 9-6 shot advantage in the second quarter. It was the Wildcats, whoever, who scored the only goal to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
UNH earned a penalty corner at 22:58 that resulted in a direct shot off the stick of Marlijne Swaan (Hilversum, Netherlands) that was stopped by Peeters.
The 'Cats were awarded another corner at 23:30 and this time the short insert went to Knuttel, whose shot was directed aside by Peeters. The rebound went out to the right side, where the shot by Emily Coughlin (Marshfield, Mass.) was blocked.
UNH generated a corner in the 27^th minute and this time Meijer's direct shot was stopped by Peeters.
UAlbany's pressure led to six corners in the last three minutes of the first half. On the first opportunity, Mara Kuskes' diagonal shot from the top-left was blocked at the goal line and cleared away by Knuttel at 27:19.
The Great Danes had four successive corners in the 29^th minute but Johnson preserved the one-goal lead with three saves.

Cookman got possession back for UNH near the defensive 25 and quickly hit the ball ahead to Poulakis in stride at midfield. Peeters charged toward the top of the circle, but Poulakis dodged left, settled the ball and fired a shot that went off a UAlbany defender's stick into the cage to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead with 35 seconds on the clock.

THIRD QUARTER

UAlbany continued to pressure in the scoreless third quarter with a 7-1 shot advantage and 4-1 edge in corners.

FOURTH QUARTER

UNH recorded a 5-1 shot advantage and scored the only goal in the fourth quarter.
The Great Danes pulled Peeters in favor of an extra field player with eight minutes remaining.
In the 57^th minute, Knuttel recorded her second defensive save of the game – again on a penalty corner shot by Kuskes, but this time on a low blast from the top of the circle.
Poulakis controlled a bouncing ball at the 25 and attacked down the right wing. She beat a defender to the end line, split a pair of Great Danes and – with her back to the cage – flicked a shot past a third defender to give UNH a 3-0 lead at 58:20.

Peeters reentered the game to defend UAlbany's cage but neither team recorded a shot the rest of the way.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Poulakis extended her goal streak to five games and point streak to 11 with Friday's pair of goals. She has 18 goals and seven assists for 43 points during the streak.
Poulakis has factored in multiple goals each of the past seven games and in nine games this season.
On UNH's career leaderboard, Poulakis is #3 in goals (55) and she climbed to #3 in career points (138) by surpassing Hayley Rausch (136 points; 2008-11); Poulakis is #5 in career assists (28).
On the program's single-season leaderboard, Poulakis entered the Top 10 in both goals (#8 with 18) and points (tied #6 with 43).
Poulakis entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in points per game and No. 5 in goals per game.
Knuttel has a five-game point streak with 12 points (4g, 4a).
Knuttel's two defensive saves were the first two by any Wildcat this season.
Meijer extended her assist streak to four games and point streak to five; she has 10 points (3g, 4a) in the point streak.
Johnson has four career shutouts.
UNH has shut out two of the last three opponents; the Wildcats blanked UMass Lowell on Oct. 17.