The UConn field hockey team left no room for their opponent to breathe as they dominated Cornell University last Friday. In a 6-1 finish, the Huskies took their third consecutive win of the season. The defense left everything out on the field, only allowing Cornell to take five shots, two of which were on goal. This gave goalkeeper Natalie McKenna a bit of a break, saving three shots the entire game. Down on the other side of the field, the offense was relentless, nailing 20 shots, 19 of which were on goal.
In the first minute of the game, UConn forward Julia Bressler took a penalty shot after a corner was taken. Bressler took full advantage and not only put up the first point for Connecticut, but her first goal of the season. Soon after, UConn’s Juul Sauer proved why she became Freshman of the Week and put one in the back of the net, earning her fourth goal of the season. Sauer’s shot was off an assist from Juana Garcia.
Less than a minute later, the Big Red responded quickly with their own goal, putting the score to 2-1, UConn leading by one. Between the rest of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter, the two teams went back and forth until Lila Browne brought the ball up the field and sent it to Sauer. This earned the star freshman her second goal of the game, putting her at five goals for the season. The way Sauer performed this past week suggests she may earn back-to-back Freshman Player of the Week.
Coming down to the end of the game and being up by four goals, you would think the Huskies would be done, but they were not. In the final minute of the game, Isabel Soeters took a corner and found Sophie Perschk for a freshman-to-freshman connection. Perschk quickly set up the ball for Milaw Clause. Clause then finished off Cornell 6-1. This also put Clause up to two goals for the season.
Throughout the game, Sauer, Bressler and Herb kept the Cornell goalkeeper on her toes. Those three players alone had a combined total of 12 out of the 20 shots that were taken, and all 12 shots were on goal.
In the last two games against Saint Joseph’s and the University of New Hampshire, Madi Herb earned two assists. On an assist from Herb, Sol Simone found the net and nailed her first goal of the season against New Hampshire.
The Huskies then finished the Wildcats off 6-2.
The Huskies are continuing to gain momentum as they prepare to go on the road to face Brown University.