DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by a three-goal second half, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth field hockey team opened their 2023 slate with a victory, besting Dean College 4-0 on Cressy Field. The victory, which saw two players record multiple points, also marked the first under the direction of new head coach
Anika Goodhue.
The Corsairs opened the action in the first quarter, grabbing the 1-0 lead on a fantastic back-and-forth in the circle from UMass Dartmouth's senior captains. On the corner at the left end, defender
Maggie McCafferty corralled the ball at the outside top of the circle sending a quick pass in to midfielder
Maggie Doherty. Making a heads-up play, Doherty quickly passed it back left to McCafferty, who fired it into the open left side of the cage for the 1-0 lead at 1:58.
After a scoreless second quarter, the Corsairs made it a 2-0 advantage at the 41:29 mark in the third as rookie
Brooke Lydon caught a pass and sent it into the circle. A misplay by the Bulldogs defense saw the ball dribble through the legs of the goalie, and first year
Sam King was there, powering past the keeper to knock it in for her first collegiate tally.
It was King once again in the fourth quarter, notching her second of the contest at 46:57. Off another corner, McCafferty caught a pass from Doherty and fired it into a scrum in front. The ball came loose and King was there behind the goalie to bank it in for the 3-0 margin.
The Corsairs made it a 4-0 margin at the 51:08 mark, as McCafferty posted her second straight assist, this time on a goal from junior
Harley Hodge. Set up outside the circle, McCafferty lifted the ball into the zone and it caromed off the stick to the right for Hodge, who dropped in a lift of her own into the open right corner of the cage.
McCafferty paced the offensive effort for the Corsairs, recording the first goal of the game with two assists. King posted two goals Hodge one, while Doherty and Lydon each had a helper. In goal, the Corsairs saw junior
Hannah Trombly finish with four saves.
Dean was paced by sophomore Sydnee Ramos, who recorded three shots, including two on goal. Senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Fillion finished with eight stops in the loss.
As a team, the Corsairs owned an 18-6 margin in shots, including 12-4 on goal. UMass Dartmouth had an 11-4 margin in penalty corners as well.
The squad is right back in action on Saturday, hosting Simmons University at 12pm on Cressy Field.
