Huskies extend winning streak to seven

The UConn field hockey team defeated both Rutgers and Yale this weekend to advancing their season with an undefeated record of 7-0. With 53 shots on goal this weekend alone UConn proved their supremacy as a team.

“Oh that is a lot isn’t it? I didn’t add them up. Wow,” said UConn’s head coach Nancy Stevens about the number of goals.

The Huskies dominated the second half of their first conference game of the season, beating Rutgers 5-0. UConn’s 12 penalty corners to Rutger’s four resulted in two of the five goals of the game. Chloe Hunnable and Emily Walsh added in two goals for the Huskies, while Louisa Boddy, a defender, got her first hat trick of the season. Sarah Mansfield helped keep the momentum up by blocking Rutger’s Carlie Rough’s penalty stroke with 23:02 into the contest. UConn’s first big conference win helps them get one step closer to the Big East Championship.

As if one win wasn’t enough for the weekend, the Huskies were victorious on Sunday as well. With their recent overtime triumph against rival Harvard, Yale was eager to continue the winning streak. However, they couldn’t keep up with the fast paced game that UConn played. Yale had only one shot on goal compared to UConn’s 28. Marie Elena Bolles and Erin Koonz added in goals for the Huskies, while Alicia Angelini’s effortless penalty stroke to the bottom right hand side of the goal helped UConn defeat Yale 3-0.

“I think our task at the beginning of the season was to replace seven out of 11 starters,” Stevens said. “We start 11 players. Seven are gone. Six graduated and Anne Jeute is out for the season with a knee injury.”

The chemistry is starting to come together at the right time for the field hockey team.

“There’s a bunch of new players out there and they’re starting to get a feel for each other, so our passing patterns are crisper and the movement’s better,” Stevens said. “Even though we’re 7-0, you know it’s a great start, the last three wins have been 2-1, 2-1, 2-1 and really hard fought. So I think we took a big step this weekend.”

The Huskies will once again be put to the test in their next home game this Friday under the lights against University of New Hampshire.