Practice On Corners Evident In Win

By: Tim Webb

Posted: 10/9/06

Coming off two decisive wins last week in Louisville, the field hockey team returned home for a pair of games against Princeton and Georgetown.

The Huskies started off the scoring, less than three minutes into the game. Lizzy Peijs scored her twelfth goal of the year, and continued her scoring streak to six games.

That was the only goal of the first half. The Huskies controlled the tempo for much of the half with Princeton getting a couple of counter attacks, including a 2-on-1 towards the end of the half which was broken up by the UConn defense.

In the second half, the Huskies came out with much of the same as in the first half. They earned many penalty corners but were unable to convert. The Huskies seemed as though they would get the insurance goal they were looking for with 20 minutes to go.

The Huskies scored, but it was called back because the referee blew his whistle too soon, which awarded the Huskies a penalty corner instead of a goal.

"The refs really need to learn sometimes to just hold their whistle," said head coach Nancy Stevens.

Ten minutes later, Huskies forward Lauren Aird put away the insurance goal, and this time it counted. The Huskies would go on to win the game, 2-0, extending the win streak to six games.

"We really got together as a team in Louisville last weekend and we clicked. We had good passes that found each others' sticks. You know where everyone is and should be."

In the second game this weekend against Georgetown, the Huskies started off quick again. Less than ten minutes into the game UConn defender Jen Kleinhans scored off a penalty corner, one of the Huskies' weaknesses all year.

"We keep practicing penalty corners - sometimes we'll add a new one or get rid of an old one," Kleinhans said. "We're kind of gambling with what defense they are going to do against us. The outers are doing a really good job, so that makes it easier to succeed."

The Huskies went on to go up 3-1 by halftime and then shut down the Hoyas in the second half as they won by a final of 5-1.

"We kind of wore them down - we were relentless and we didn't give up," Stevens said. "But also, they kind of chose not to play for the win. Instead they chose to play not to lose by ten. They stacked everyone in their defensive zone and only gave up five goals. So I guess they didn't lose by ten."

The Huskies will look to add to their seven game win streak Wednesday to face Northeastern at 7 p.m. at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.