Bottino's Goal Sends No. 7 Field Hockey Past Hofstra 1-0
BOX SCORE
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.- On a hot day in Long Island, No. 7 University at Albany field hockey (3-0) prevailed in a tight game, 1-0 over Hofstra (2-3). Sophomore Anna Bottino recorded her first goal of the season with the game-winner, while Paula Heuser had the accompanying assist.
“With the heat today we played more conservative at times,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “We had some good opportunities, we just missed a few connections in the offensive end. To be able to grind out a win despite that adversity, and against a good Hofstra team shows we've made progress.”
Bottino and Heuser were on the offensive early, combining for three shots in the first five minutes. The Pride responded with a run of its own, tallying the first shot on goal in the eighth minute. Maxi Primus slid in to make the save and maintain the shutout.
After 10 minutes of changing possession in the midfield, the Great Danes finally broke through to take the lead. Heuser found Bottino in the circle, and the midfielder spun around her defender to score.
The teams made substitutions often in the late-afternoon heat on the AstroTurf at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium. UAlbany and Hofstra combined for just five shots in the 35 minutes of play, including one shot on goal apiece. Neither squad earned a penalty corner.
The Pride emerged from the locker room ready to go, firing off-target to open the half on two occasions. Bottino went the other way on the counter-attack, but the midfielder had her attempt saved three minutes into the second period.
The Danes and Pride combined for more shots in the first 10 minutes of the second half than in the entire first period. The teams would go back and forth mid-way through the stanza, but goalkeepers Primus and Carys Swan remained steadfast in the cage.
In the midst of a seven-shot rally for Hofstra, freshman Megan Ma and senior defender Laura Page registered one defensive save apiece.
After the Pride took its second and final penalty corner of the game, Primus made a save to jump-start a UAlbany run downfield. Bottino had a shot blocked in the 50th minute, while classmate Kelsey Briddell hit the pipe shortly after.
With time winding down, Hofstra's Simca Schoen was issued a yellow card, putting the Pride down one player for five minutes. Sykes called timeout following the card's expiration to regroup, and the Danes secured a 1-0 victory.
The Purple & Gold did not record a penalty corner, but made two defensive saves for just the second time in the Division I era. Maxi Primus posted her first shutout of 2015 with five saves.
UAlbany field hockey travels to No. 8 Maryland (2-2) for the Terrapin Invitational on Friday. The Danes and Terrapins face off in a rematch of last season's NCAA Second Round at 4:00 p.m., in College Park.
