No. 6 Field Hockey Suffers Conference Setback in 6-2 Loss at Maine
BOX SCORE
ORONO, MAINE – No. 6 University at Albany field hockey (9-2, 2-1 AE) fell victim to the long trip to Orono on Friday afternoon, losing 6-2 at the hands of Maine (11-2, 2-0 AE). The Danes were previously undefeated on the road dating back to September of last season.
Maine wasted no time putting goals on the board. Maine head coach Josette Babineau was assessed a green card on the sideline in the fourth minute, propelling her team to tally two goals in the next minute. Jessica Skillings and Marissa Shaw scored for the Black Bears.
In an early 2-0 hole, UAlbany forced a comeback effort mid-way through the first half. After having her first shot saved by Maine goalie Emma Cochran, Anna Bottino broke through to make the score 2-1 with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening stanza. The sophomore connected with the back of the cage courtesy of Paula Heuser.
Just as the Black Bears had a player released after a green card, Megan Ma inserted UAlbany's first penalty corner. The freshman's look to Frederike Helmke was blocked, but Liza Morgan converted on the rebound to tie the game 2-2. Morgan has scored in three consecutive games, and five of her last six.
With the game locked at two, Heuser had another shot stopped to close the half. The Purple & Gold had a one-player advantage to start the second period on another Maine green card.
UAlbany earned three penalty corners to open the second stanza, but shots by Helmke, Laura Page and Heuser all came up short.
On its first penalty corner of the final 35 minutes, Maine scored to take the lead and didn't look back. Despite eight second-half shots and a 7-1 edge in penalty corners, the Danes gave up four unanswered goals to fall 6-2.
Phil Sykes & co., will look to rebound at Yale (2-7, 0-2 Ivy) on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
