University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Silence Bobcats
9/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
STORRS, CT. (September 10) – The University of Connecticut field hockey team defeated Quinnipiac 3-0 behind a two goal effort from senior forward Mary Jo Malone (Water Mill, NY). With the shutout victory, UConn improves to 3-1 on the season and is yet to allow a goal at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in 2003. Quinnipiac drops to 1-2 on the campaign.
Both squads came out sluggishly in the first half, as good scoring chances did not come easily. Although UConn out-shot the Bobcats 11-3 in the first session, Quinnipiac played steady defense, holding the Husky offense scoreless for the first 35 minutes.
The second half began similarly to the first half as good defense by both sides was the main theme. However, Malone (Water Mill, NY) got the ball rolling as she found a seam in the Bobcat defense and dribbled into the circle almost untouched. Malone got to within point blank range and punched it into the back of the net to break the scoreless tie with 24:53 remaining in the second stanza. Just three minutes later, Malone fashioned the goal of the year so far for the Huskies. Senior forward Kelly Stolle (Warren, CT) found herself open downfield with only one Bobcat defender to beat. Stolle did just that and rifled a shot that ricocheted off Quinnipiac keeper Erin McKay. Malone was there to intercept the rebound and struck the ball in from mid-air at about her waste level as if she had a baseball bat in her hands. Stolle added the Huskies’ final tally as she collected a rebound from a shot by Lauren Henderson and fired it past McKay into the lower left corner.
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Maureen Butler (Red Hook, NY) made three saves and earned her third shutout of the season. McKay stopped 12 UConn shots in 70 minutes of action
UConn will travel to Norfolk, Virginia for two high profile non-conference match-ups this weekend. The Huskies will take on Stanford at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 13, and No. 6 Old Dominion Sunday, September 14 at 1:00 pm.
