ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany field hockey team earned its third consecutive victory and first place in the league's East Division with a 3-1 win over #20 Maine on Sunday afternoon.
Paula Heuser struck twice in the first half as UAlbany (7-4, 2-0 AE) scored the game's first three goals and was strong offensively with 11 penalty corners and 13 shots to Maine's (8-4, 1-1 AE) eight. Maine netted a goal in the 59th minute, but UAlbany's advantage proved steadfast.
“We looked at this weekend as a very challenging one, being away at New Hampshire and home vs. Maine, both very good teams,” said UAlbany head coach Phil Sykes. “We were really up for the challenge, and the girls' eagerness to compete and want to do well showed us a lot about the heart of the our team.”
With the victory, UAlbany stands in first place in the America East's East Division, being the only team undefeated on that side in league play after the first weekend.
Heuser's two goals, with the first being assisted by Frederike Helmke, gives her 90 for her career and 10 this season. Molly Mariano netted the third goal from Kelsey Briddell in the 55th minute. Maxi Primus earned the victory in goal with four saves.
“Much like Friday, we came out with some fire in the beginning,” said Sykes. “We wanted to get on the scoreboard first, and we weren't content the entire game. Even though Maine fought back, we were still going at them the whole game.”
For Maine, Brianna Ricker scored the team's goal unassisted. Emma Cochran got the loss in goal with two saves and two goals allowed in the first half, with Emily Corbett playing the second half with two saves on three attempts on the net.
UAlbany got some early penalty corners, but Maine had the first looks on goal. Primus saved three Black Bear shots in the opening 15:42 of the game.
On a penalty corner in the 22nd minute, Heuser got the ball from Helmke after some passing in the half-circle. Heuser fired and scored to put UAlbany ahead 1-0.
UAlbany kept picking up penalty corners, with Heuser and Dana Bozek putting shots wide. In minute 32, Viola Von der Mühlen got the ball Heuser. With some back and forth dribbling and moving, Heuser got free and grounded a shot inside the right post for the 2-0 UAlbany lead, the halftime score.
As action stayed primarily in the middle of the field in the first 15 minutes of the second half, UAlbany pressured in the 50th minute as Anna Bottino's shot was saved by Corbett. A minute later, Heuser's shot off a penalty corner was also saved.
Minute 55 saw Briddell with possession, passing off to Mariano. Mariano's shot found the cage on the left side, giving UAlbany a 3-0 advantage.
Primus saved Madison Cummings's shot in the 59th minute, but the rebound went to Ricker for the putback goal. The score went to 3-1 UAlbany.
UAlbany protected against the final Maine offensive attack in the 62nd minute as shots by Sydney Veljacic and Samantha Wagg were blocked. UAlbany earned the 3-1 victory.
UAlbany continues its homestand next weekend, hosting Vermont on the Alumni Turf on Friday, October 7th at 2 p.m.
