No. 12 Field Hockey Downs Maine in Orono for First League Win
ORONO, MAINE – The University at Albany field hockey team (10-1, 1-0 AE) has recorded 10 wins at record pace this season after beating Maine 2-1 on the road on Saturday afternoon.
“It was a very well-played game in a tough environment,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “Maine is a good team, and we were glad to get out of there with a win.”
The Great Danes got on the board first in the 13th minute, when Fiori Van Rijswijk found the back of the cage on a penalty corner scramble. The penalty corner specialist scored her second goal of the season, unassisted.
UAlbany took a 2-0 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half, when Paula Heuser scored on a penalty corner pass from Daphne Voormolen. The freshman scored her ninth goal of the season to rank first among rookies in the America East.
The Black Bears scored less than two minutes later, and the teams entered halftime with the score 2-1.
Maine pressed on in the second half, and had a dangerous opportunity to tie the game in the 62nd minute. On a scramble in front of the goal, senior defender Corrine McConville took the ball off the goal line to preserve the win. The Great Danes called timeout shortly thereafter to regroup.
Maine pulled its goalie Natasha Ford with less than two minutes in regulation, but UAlbany defended its own end to emerge with the victory.
Maxi Primus recorded four saves in her ninth win in the cage.
With the victory, the Great Danes take a 9-8 lead in the all-time series against the Black Bears. UAlbany is now on a three-game winning streak against Maine, after beating the Black Bears in Orono for the first time since 2009.
The Great Danes face No. 4 Virginia at home tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m.
