University of Connecticut Athletics
No. 4 UConn Stumps No. 13 Stanford, 2-0
8/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Final Stats
STORRS, Conn. - The No. 4 University of Connecticut field hockey (1-0) team stumped No. 13 Stanford (0-1), 2-0, in the squad's 2017 season opener on Friday afternoon at the Sherman Family Complex.
Senior Casey Umstead notched the game winner with a penalty stroke in the 47th minute, before freshman Margot van Hecking Colenbrander added an insurance goal nearly nine minutes later to help provide UConn with its first win for the season.
The Huskies held a heavy 12-3 shot advantage in the first half but failed to seize their scoring opportunity, as the two teams stood knotted at 0-0 after 35 minutes of play. Despite UConn's dominate offensive effort, Stanford remained in the game thanks to goalkeeper Kelsey Bing's seven first half saves.
It was in the second half that the home team did their damage, scoring two late goals against their West Coast rivals. Umstead, a 2016 third team All-American, got the Huskies on the board first, scoring off a penalty stroke nearly 10 minutes into the second half. The senior picked up her first goal of the season firing a shot into the left bottom corner of the cage and by the Cardinal's goalkeeper.
Additionally, van Hecking Colenbrander made a splash in her first collegiate game, posting her first career goal in the victory. After collecting a loose rebound off an initial shot from Charlotte Veitner, the defender flicked the ball home for the 2-0 edge. The freshman placed a team second-best three shots on goal during the contest.
UConn had 11 penalty corners to Stanford's one, providing its offensive take to be more lethal. Freshmen, van Hecking Colenbrander and Jessica Dembrowski garnered their first career starts for the Huskies, while classmates Kourtney Kennedy and Vivienne Tucker saw action in their first career game.
Senior Nina Klein recorded three saves in the contest, while her counterpart recorded 10.
The Huskies return to Sherman Family Complex on Sunday, August 27 in a 1:00 p.m. battle against No. 14 Northwestern. Admission is free to all.
