Field Hockey Falls To Preseason Favorite Connecticut, 4-0, In Season Opener

STORRS, CONN. – The Providence College Friars fell to BIG EAST favorite, Connecticut, 4-0 on Feb. 28. It marked the season opener for the Friars, while the Huskies improved to 2-0 on the year.

FIRST QUARTER:
• The Huskies held a 4-0 advantage in shots on goal in the opening quarter.
• The Friars weathered three-consecutive penalty corner opportunities by the Huskies and managed to keep the game scoreless.
• Junior goalkeeper Camryn Kelbaugh (Hampstead, Md.) stopped four shots in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER:
• Niamh Gowing (Dublin, Ireland) gave the Friars a solid scoring chance just 32 seconds into the second quarter, but it was saved by Cheyenne Sprecher.
• The save created a transition opportunity for the Huskies and Jessica Dembrowski notched her first goal of the season at the 15:45 mark of the game.
• UConn earned its first corner of the second quarter with 7:45 left on the clock, but the Friars were able to deflect the shot attempt out of play.
• Providence gained possession and got the ball into the attacking circle with under 15-seconds to play in the half, but mishandled the ball, allowing UConn to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
• Connecticut held a 2-1 edge in shots on goal during the second quarter.
• Kelbaugh entered halftime with five saves, while Sprecher made one stop for the Huskies.

THIRD QUARTER:
• The Huskies put on early pressure, earning consecutive penalty corners less than two minutes into the action. UConn managed just one shot, which was blocked by a Friar defender.
• Play remained in the middle of the field for the next two minutes before UConn registered what could have been its third corner of the quarter. The Friars asked for a review and the game officials reversed the call.
• Dembrowski got her second goal of the afternoon as she made a nice touch on a bouncing ball in the middle of the circle, redirecting it just a bit, to get it by Kelbaugh with 7:36 remaining in the quarter. Sophie Hamilton was credited with the assist.
• UConn earned a corner with 3:13 left on the clock. After the insert was mishandled at the top of the circle, UConn maintained possession and Kourtney Kennedy was able to fire a back-handed shot that ricocheted off the left post.

FOURTH QUARTER:
• The Huskies made it a 3-0 game just 36-seconds into the fourth off of a redirection from Hamilton. Claire Van den Noort sent a long pass in from the right side of the field, and Hamilton recorded her team-leading third goal of the season.
• Olivia Ward (Havelock North, New Zealand) and Gowing teamed up on the doorstep of the Huskies goal cage with 10:00 to play in the game, but the officials whistled the play dead.
• UConn got its fourth goal, and first off of a penalty corner, with 6:03 left to play. Claire Jandewerth scored from the top of the circle and was assisted by Hamilton and Van den Noort.

NOTES / HIGHLIGHTS:
• Sunday's meeting between Providence and Connecticut marked the first of four games between the two teams in this spring's shortened season that features a regional format for BIG EAST play.
• Kelbaugh finished the day with six saves in her first career start, while Sprecher collected one save.
• Connecticut held a 10-1 advantage in shots on goal and a 10-0 edge in penalty corners.
• Two freshmen, Marley Mailloux (Hampstead, N.H.) and Emily Antunes (Lebanon, N.J.) made their collegiate debuts as members of the starting line-up for Providence.

WHAT'S NEXT:
• The Friars return to action on Friday, March 5 against BIG EAST foe Quinnipiac. The game will be played in Hamden, Conn. and is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

- GO FRIARS! -

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Team Stats

Niamh Gowing

Players Mentioned

Emily Antunes

Niamh Gowing

Camryn Kelbaugh

Marley Mailloux

Olivia Ward