The University’s field hockey team moved into their conference play this past weekend as they faced the Rider University Broncs and Sacred Heart University.
“What we want to take away every year from our non-conference schedule is to play some really big teams which I think we did that this year,” head coach Carli Figlio said. “I think the difference this year is that if we’re not winning, we are coming really close to winning.”
During the season’s non-conference play, the Hawks faced two big opponents: Michigan State and Rutgers University. Against Michigan State, a nationally ranked opponent, MU played a tough game but lost at the last second, 4-3, in overtime. In their final non-conference game, the Hawks were able to defeat Rutgers, 3-2, at So Sweet A Cat Field on Sunday, Oct. 12.
The Hawks could not carry this momentum to their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game of the season as the team fell 1-0 to Rider on Friday, Oct. 17. With the loss, the Hawks hit the .500 mark at 7-7 (0-1 MAAC) for the year.
“This year more than any other year, our conference is very strong. It’s any team’s game at any point,” Figlio said before the game. “Heading into Rider and Sacred Heart, being not on our field, its a disadvantage to us but I think the girls are really focused in on how we want to play and just focusing on us as opposed to what are they doing and how can we stop it.”
The Broncs gained the lead in the ninth minute of play as they earned a penalty corner which resulted in the only goal of the game. Rider placed a shot on net which sophomore defender Casey Hanna was able to clear, however, Rider’s Melyssa Alonso received the cleared ball and put it in the back of the cage.
Sophomore Alyssa Ercolino had a team-high three shots on net. Senior Amanda Schoenfeld and graduate student Trish O’Dwyer both registered two shots each. This was the first time in seven games in which O’Dwyer did not score.
“Having the fire power on the forward line I think is obviously going to help us in the MAAC but also with Amanda and Trish, it is just that leadership. They really stepped up big time and been huge for us this year,” Figlio said.
Although MU lost the contest, they outshot the Broncs 11-8 while also holding a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners.
With this game in their rear view, the Hawks travelled to Lawrenceville, CT to face Sacred Heart University on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Led by freshman Meg Donahue, MU edged the Pioneers 2-0 to record their second shutout of the season. The Hawks improved their record to 8-7 (1-1 MAAC) while Sacred Heart falls to 7-7 (1-1 MAAC).
Donahue scored both goals of the game, the first of which was made two minutes before half. O’Dwyer enticed SHU’s goalie of the cage, then gave a backwards pass to Donahue who found the net for her seventh goal of the season.
The Hawks scored their second goal of the game nine minutes into the second half. O’Dwyer chipped a ball passed the SHU goalkeeper and towards to Donahue. Donahue once again found the back of the cage and secured her first collegiate multi-goal game.
Freshman goalkeeper Christen Piersanti had two saves in the win. MU out shot SHU 20-8 and held a 17-8 advantage in penalty corners.
MU returns to action Sunday, Oct. 26 at Hamden, CT to face Quinnipiac. The Bobcats, who were last year’s MAAC Tournament Champions, hold a 6-8 overall record (2-0 MAAC) this season.
PHOTO TAKEN by Taylor Jackson
