Three First-Half Goals Propel Field Hockey Past Harvard, 3-1

Sunday, October 18

Cambridge, Mass

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

(6-8, 2-2AE)

Harvard

(7-5, 2-2Ivy)

New Hampshire

Harvard

Three First-Half Goals Propel Field Hockey Past Harvard, 3-1

10/18/2015 6:11:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Kaie Audino (Severn, Md.), Jackie Hozza (Sinking Spring, Pa.) and Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.) scored first-half goals to propel the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Sunday afternoon's 3-1 victory against Harvard University at Harvard FH Stadium.

UNH recorded its first road win of the season to improve to 6-8. Harvard is now 7-5. The Crimson recorded a 10-7 shot advantage on the strength of an 8-1 second-half margin. UNH generated a 6-3 edge in penalty corners and converted two into goals.

Starting goalkeeper Melissa Rize (Severn, Md.) exited the game with UNH leading 3-0 at 62:12; she was credited with five saves and the win. Kelsey Rudert (North Grafton, Mass.) played the final 7:48 and stopped 2 of 3 shots on goal.

Harvard starting goalie Issy Davies made one save and allowed three goals in 56:29 of action. Olivia Startup had one save in her relief stint and Elizabeth Warner was credited with a defensive save. Marissa Balleza scored the Crimson's goal.

Neither team generated much offensively in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Harvard's Hannah Wellington recorded the first shot of the game in the 11^th minute, but Rize made the save.

UNH earned its first corner of the game in the 16^th minute and capitalized on that opportunity to take a 1-0 lead at 15:14. Mendonca's initial shot was stopped by Davies but Audino, who started the penalty corner with the insert, scored off the rebound at the left doorstep for her third tally of the season.

Two minutes later, Rize preserved the one-goal lead by denying Abbey Thornhill.

The Wildcats extended the advantage to 2-0 on Hozza's penalty-corner goal at 19:08. Mendonca, with the pass from the top of the circle to Hozza on the left side, set up the tally.

In the 22^nd minute, the 'Cats earned another corner but this time the shot off the stick of Jessica Schmidt (Warrington, Pa.) was blocked by a Crimson defender.

Flatley gave UNH a 3-0 lead at 25:31. Her initial pass attempt from the left wing was blocked, but Flatley corralled the ball, beat two defenders and scored just off the left post for her sixth goal of the year.

With just under two minutes remaining in the first half, the 'Cats nearly struck again on a corner when a shot by Taylor Rideout (Barrington, R.I.) beat Davies but was cleared off the goal line by Elizabeth Warner.

Harvard generated pressure in the opening minutes of the second half. Elizabeth Jacobson's shot was stopped by Rize and then a Crimson corner produced Balleza's shot that was also saved by Rize.

UNH earned a corner in the 48^th minute but did not record a shot. Balleza was once again denied by Rize in the 53^rd minute. Eight minutes later, Jacobson's bid on a corner went wide of the cage.

Rudert recorded a save on the first shot she faced by Jacobson in the 66^th minute but Balleza put an end to the UNH goalies' combined shutout bid with an unassisted goal at 68:00. Rudert made another save in the waning seconds against Victoria Boylett to keep the margin at two goals.

New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 23 (2 p.m.) at the University of Vermont. The Wildcats' next home game is Oct. 25 (1 p.m.) against the University at Albany.

Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE.