Field Hockey With Seventh Straight Win

By: Brittany Perotti

Posted: 10/9/06

The field hockey team has been rolling along this season as its winning streak was extended to seven this weekend. Lizzy Peijs and Lauren Aird led the team on offense and four other Huskies also scored this weekend to help UConn defeat Princeton and Big East rival Georgetown.

Peijs has scored in six of the seven games during the winning streak and improved her team-leading total goals to 12 this weekend. She helped the Huskies get off to a fast start in Saturday's game when she scored in the first three minutes and had two assists during Sunday's game against the Hoyas. She was recently named Big East Offensive Player of the Week. Aird also stepped up and produced a goal in each of the games and now has nine on the season.

"Lizzy and Lauren have great vision," said head coach Nancy Stevens. "They make everyone around them better. They're unselfish and are outstanding players. They set up passes and dish out balls to teammates."

"It's a choice the defense has to make," Peijs said. "If they don't come to me, then another girl will score. The forwards cut away and create space. Sometimes another girl will score, and sometimes I can put it in myself."

"It felt fantastic to score," Aird said. "I couldn't believe it went in," after the ball went between the Tigers' goalkeeper's legs.

Stevens felt the game against Princeton was one of the best games the team had all year, as the Huskies were able to shut down the Tigers offense.

"We're coming together," she said. "We're taking it one game at a time."

UConn's defense has allowed just one goal in three of the last four games that have been played since starting goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero pulled her hamstring five minutes before the Louisville game last week. Brianna Koza has filled the position until Mainiero's return.

"I'm really happy for Bri," Stevens said. "She got her first career shutout."

"The defense has been very solid," she said. "I'm happy with the defensive performance. Having Joy [Kleinhans] play adds a little to the team and allows Jen [Kleinhans] to move up the field."

The game against Georgetown saw five different Huskies score to help the team extend its streak. Jen Kleinhans started the team off strong with a goal coming in the first ten minutes and Nikki Harmony and Kristin Galuski also connected in the first half. Aird and Meghan Wheeler helped the team increase the lead to four.

"If you have a 30-goal player, it's easy to shut her down," Stevens said. "It's nice to have balance on offense."

Several players agreed with Stevens.

"It shows you can score," said Meagan Hoffmann. "You know you have 11 players on the field that can do it."

"It's great to have more than one person scoring," Harmony said. "Not all of the pressure is on one person. I'm excited for the team. It was a big win against Princeton and Georgetown. We're now 2-1 in the Big East."

During the winning streak, Aird said the team has become closer and things are going well.

"The chemistry is really good," she said. "We're coming together. We have to shoot it up."

"Everything's going great," Hoffmann said. "We have to keep up the work."

"We have big goals," Harmony said. "We're looking to continue winning. Last weekend was a big win and we have to carry that into the other games."