Coming off a 3-2 win against the Long Island University Sharks (2-4, 0-1 NEC) that broke a four-game losing streak, the Georgetown University field hockey team (2-6, 0-2 Big East) looked to carry the momentum into their second Big East match. Unfortunately, the University of Connecticut (9-1, 2-0 Big East) took care of business on the road as they shut the Hoyas out, 5-0.
The win against LIU was the Hoyas’ second of the season, doubling last year’s win total, when they hobbled to a 1-17 finish. If that was a sign of a turnaround, UConn dashed the hopes of Hoya field hockey fans in an efficient 60 minutes of play.
The Husky defense held Georgetown to just one shot on goal for the entirety of the match, taken by junior midfielder/forward Sydney Yodh in the second period.
The Husky offense forced senior goalkeeper Bailey Tietz, making just her third appearance and second start of the season, out of net after five goals in just over 37 minutes of play. Hoya goalkeeper Ella Fahey, building on what has been a successful sophomore campaign thus far, made three saves in a scoreless 22:23 in net.
The match began with four fouls in the first two minutes of play, two apiece by each team. Georgetown struggled to maintain possession of the ball while UConn fired off shots. UConn’s first goal was generated off a penalty corner. Tietz saved two shots before UConn forward Madi Herb tallied her fifth goal of the season on a rebound.
Both teams remained quiet for the next five minutes until Georgetown’s captain and senior midfielder/forward Sophie Towne took a penalty corner, allowing sophomore midfielder/forward Elena Perez Alejandro to get a shot off. The shot was subsequently blocked, the only offense that the Hoyas would generate in the first quarter.
Tietz made one more save in a quarter riddled with fouls on both sides, with the Hoyas entering the second quarter with a one goal deficit.
Tietz saved the first three shots on goal of the second quarter. The defense assisted by blocking two shots. The rebound again proved too difficult to save, as UConn forward Juul Sauer regained possession of her own saved shot and scored, her eighth of the season.
Yodh received a green card, then Tietz stopped two consecutive shots. UConn committed three fouls, then Yodh recorded the aforementioned shot on goal.
UConn struck again right before the end of the half, as midfielder Sol Simone took a penalty corner, leading to an assist on a goal scored by forward Julia Bressler. UConn midfielder Jasmijn Damman also recorded an assist on the play.
To begin the second half, UConn swapped goalkeepers, with Gabby Raichle replacing Natalie McKenna.
Both teams recorded several fouls and UConn forward Juana Garcia was awarded a green card before UConn forward Sophia Ugo sent a pass up field to Sauer, giving her a one-on-one with Tietz and netting her second goal of the match.
Just 55 seconds later, UConn midfielder Isabel Soeters would take a penalty corner that led to UConn back Milou Heuker scoring the Huskies’ fifth goal. That would knock Tietz out of the match, Fahey stepping in to replace her.
Neither team scored during the remainder of the match, resulting in a 5-0 tally in favor of UConn when the time expired.
UConn was a tough draw for a Hoya team looking to build on its second win of the season. The Huskies are enjoying a successful season that has them ranked fifth in NCAA Division 1 field hockey by RPI and eighth in the Oct. 1 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll.
Georgetown has a great opportunity to get in the conference win column when they travel to Hamden, Conn. to play the Quinnipiac Bobcats (2-8, 0-2 Big East) Oct. 4. They will stay in Connecticut through the weekend to play at Sacred Heart (3-6, 2-0 NEC) Oct. 6.
