Carter Scores for Third Game in a Row
STORRS, Conn. – UConn started strong and
finished strong Wednesday night at the Sherman Family Sports
Complex, scoring four goals in the first 26 minutes and three in
the last 10 minutes. In between those two spurts, Yale managed to
hang with the No. 5 team in the country. Junior back Erin Carter scored the only goal by either team in a stretch of
more than 30 minutes of playing time, but it was not enough for
Yale to avoid a 7-1 loss.
"No question, UConn is a very good team -- one of the best
in the country," said Pam Stuper, Yale's head coach.
"We knew their forwards were fast. They hit us early on with
those first four goals, but then we started to figure out what we
needed to do."
UConn (9-2) seized control of the game early. A turnover in the
midfield gave the Huskies the chance for a 2-on-1 six minutes into
the game, and Anne Jeute fed Marie Elena Bolles for a 1-0 lead.
Yale (6-4) did not get possession below the 30 until shortly
after UConn's goal. Junior forward Mia Rosati sent a shot wide, and 90 seconds later Jeute scored
on a penalty corner to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
UConn's third penalty corner also led to a goal, as it
ended with a penalty stroke when the UConn shot hit a Yale
player's foot on the way into the goal. Rayell Heistand
scored on the stroke at 24:58.
The Bulldogs regrouped after the series of quick scores, and
stopped two UConn corners later in the half. But shortly after
freshman goalie Emily Cain made a quick kick save
on a shot by Melissa Gonzalez, the Huskies scored again (Cara
Silverman). UConn took a 4-0 lead into halftime.
Yale kept UConn scoreless early in the second half despite three
Husky corners in the first seven minutes. Senior forward
Johna Paolino then had a nice drive into the
circle cut off by UConn keeper Sarah Mansfield.
The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard when a penalty stroke was
called after freshman forward Erica Borgo grabbed
a UConn turnover in the midfield and was taken down from behind
while driving in on goal. Carter was tabbed to take the shot, and
after several pensive seconds crouching down in front of the ball
she rose up and fired a shot past Mansfield's right side at
47:44.
Sensing the Bulldogs' chance to gain momentum, UConn
called timeout shortly after the Carter goal. Yale denied three
more Husky corners in a span of less than two minutes, and remained
within striking distance until a breakaway goal by Ali Blankmeyer
started a three-goal UConn run in the final 10 minutes. The run
included one more from Blankmeyer, and Silverman capped the scoring
with 39 seconds left in the game.
"In the second half, we made some good adjustments,"
said Stuper. "There were shades of us playing well on both
sides of the ball for several stretches, but that's not
enough against a team like UConn."
Cain played the first half in goal for Yale, making five saves,
while senior Katie Bolling played the second half
and made two saves.
Yale visits No. 12 BC on Sunday.
Every goal Yale scores this season brings the world closer
to a cure for myotonic dystrophy. Sophomore goalkeeper Ona
McConnell(London,
England) has been diagnosed with the disease, the
most common form of muscular dystrophy. The Bulldogs are taking
pledges for a season-long "Goal-a-thon" as part of their "Get a
Grip" campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Myotonic
Dystrophy Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.yalebulldogs.com/getagrip
Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports
Publicity
