Heuser Becomes All-Time Leader in Single-Season Goals as No. 11 Field Hockey Downs Dartmouth 3-1
BOX SCORE
HANOVER, N.H. – Sophomore midfielder Paula Heuser topped the UAlbany single-season goals leaderboard on Saturday, scoring once in No. 11 field hockey's 3-1 win at Dartmouth. The German has now scored 19 goals on the season. The Great Danes (12-2, 2-0 AE) are also on a six-game winning streak.
“It's always a challenge to play sharp after we've faced a great conference opponent in UNH [on Friday], said head coach Phil Sykes. We came in a bit slow, but I was happy with our perseverance. We played very well and came up a bit unlucky on some of our chances.”
The Big Green took an early lead on a tip-in with less than five minutes gone in the first half. UAlbany started the game playing from behind in the first half for just the second time all season. Dartmouth did not register a shot for the remainder of the game.
Despite the early setback, UAlbany put on the pressure at the other end of the field. The Purple & Gold earned a series of penalty corners 10 minutes later. Pahila Arnold fired on a shot-fake set up by Paula Heuser, but Dartmouth managed the defensive save on an open net.
Moments later, Heuser got her chance on an insert by Fiori Van Rijswijk and stop by Laura Page. The sophomore ricocheted a shot down the middle of the cage for her 19th goal of the season to even the score at one with 15 minutes left in the half.
The Great Danes took six unanswered shots to close the first half, ending the period with a 12-1 shot advantage.
The Purple & Gold did not let up early in the second half, as Heuser and Kelly Bonner continued to pound the goal. Despite 12 UAlbany penalty corners mid-way through the second half, the score remained deadlocked at one.
Arnold made the breakthrough for UAlbany, tracking down a penalty corner rebound for the game-winning goal. The freshman has scored in four of her last five games, and has 13 points on the season.
Fellow freshman Anna Bottino wrapped up scoring 40 seconds later, taking a Dartmouth defender at the top of the circle and firing into the lower left corner of the cage.
Maxi Primus took her 27th career win in the cage. The Purple & Gold posted a 40-1 shot advantage and a 15-0 edge in penalty corners.
Paula Heuser continued to climb the record leaderboard against the Big Green. Heuser has now matched her rookie season point total with 45 points (19g, 7a). The sophomore became the all-time leader in single-season goals scored, passing UAlbany Hall of Fame Member Tovah Atwell with 19 goals so far in 2014.
The Great Danes (12-2, 2-0 AE) return to league play on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3:00 p.m. Phil Sykes's squad will face Fairfield (5-9, 0-2 AE) on the road.
