Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The University of Maine field hockey team extended its winning streak to eight games, improving its record to 8-1 with wins over Hofstra University and Quinnipiac University last weekend.
The Black Bears turned in fine performances against two quality opponents, and coach Terry Kix couldn’t be happier.
“We are very excited to win two games back to back on the road versus formidable opponents,” Kix said.
UMaine opened the road trip with a 2-0 defeat of Hofstra on Saturday. Senior Jen Johnstone and junior Jana Ouellette both scored their third goal of the season in the victory. Johnstone opened the scoring at 25:45 on a penalty corner, with assists coming from seniors Tara Bedard and Kim Leo.
UMaine closed the scoring at the end of the half when Ouellette scored at 29:57. UMaine was able to preserve the shutout with junior goalkeeper Colbey Smith making four saves.
Hofstra entered Saturday’s contest with a 6-2 record, having scored at least one goal in each of their games this season. With the 2-0 shutout of Hofstra, UMaine was the first team able to blank the Pride this season.
Coach Kix felt the victory was a team effort.
“Everyone had a role in the victory from our preparation prior to the game to our execution on game day. This game was a battle from the initial whistle,” Kix said.
Sunday’s game against Quinnipiac resulted in a victory as well, but the Black Bears had to work harder to keep their winning streak intact.
Quinnipiac was first to score when Jackie Langenstein scored on a pass from Chelsea Osbrey. The Black Bears worked out of the deficit when Bedard scored her seventh goal of the season at 17:25, tying the game at 1-1.
Minutes later, at 19:19, sophomore Rachael Hilgar scored the eventual game-winner on a pass from Bedard. Closing out the scoring was Kristy Ferran, adding an insurance goal at 16:39 on an assist by Johnstone.
Kix said that senior leadership was one of the keys to beating Quinnipiac, specifically that of Johnstone, Bedard, Leo, and Ferran. Their leadership “allowed us to scratch and claw our way to victory,” Kix said.
The Black Bears return home this Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest with the Providence Friars. The Friars are coached by former UMaine assistant coach Diane Madl. Madl, now in her first year as head coach at Providence College, was with the Black Bears for seven years prior to 2002.
Due to the fact that Madl knows a great deal about the UMaine field hockey team, one can expect a different Black Bears’ game plan.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play a very well-coached team in Providence,” Kix said. “We will focus on the technical aspects of the game that we are doing well, but we will also make some adjustments that hopefully aren’t so predictable.”
Many agree that Madl was a special part of the UMaine field hockey program, and the game should be emotional for the Black Bear squad.
“Diane (Madl) has been an integral part of the success of our program and the development of our fine student-athletes the past seven years she served at UMaine. Diane knows our team very well, so we must be very sharp and give some different looks,” Kix said.
