Kurtin Scores First Collegiate Goal

STORRS, Conn. – The list of teams who have scored three goals in regulation vs. the No. 4 UConn field hockey team this season was a brief one heading into Sunday -- one team, No. 3 Stanford, which beat the Huskies 3-1 in September. Yale added its name to that list Sunday at the Sherman Family Sports Complex, putting some perspective on an otherwise disappointing 8-3 loss to the Huskies. The Bulldogs fell behind 5-0 at halftime but regrouped and played UConn -- the defending national champions -- to a 3-3 draw in the second half. Yale's goal scorers included senior forward Jessie Accurso, freshman forward Catherine Kurtin (her first career goal) and sophomore midfielder Kelsey Nolan.

UConn (11-3, 3-0 Big East) brought a five-game winning streak into the day, and seized control with a pair of goals in the first three minutes. Thanks in part to 11 saves by senior goalkeeper Heather Schlesier, though, the Huskies' scoring pace slowed the rest of the way.

UConn outshot Yale 18-1 in the first half, but halftime provided Yale (2-11, 0-4 Ivy League) a chance to refocus.

"We walk into halftime down 5-0, and we know we're not playing the way we are capable of playing," said Pam Stuper, Yale's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. "For us to come out in the second half, score three goals and play a little bit better defense, says something about this team's toughness and fighting spirit. We had to be proud of what we did in the second half."

In fact, after a goal by midfielder Chrissy Davidson at 36:23 put UConn up 6-0, the Bulldogs wound up outscoring the Huskies the rest of the way. Accurso got things started with an unassisted goal at 40:26.

"A lot of Jessie's goals are a product of hard work, pressing the other team or making a really hard carry," said Stuper. "That was a typical Jessie goal. It was a really hard shot, and well-placed."

UConn scored the next two goals, including the seventh of the season for forward Charlotte Veitner, to go ahead 8-1 with less than 20 minutes to play.

But the Bulldogs continued to battle while working in every player on the roster. Shortly after Kurtin scored her first career goal at 55:19, sophomore Emilie Katz replaced Schlesier in goal -- Katz' first career minutes in goal (she saw time as a field player last season).

"It was exciting to see Catherine get her first career goal, and for Emilie to get her first minutes in goal, against one of the top teams in the nation," said Stuper. "Some of our younger players were able to get quality time against a formidable opponent, and that will help us down the line."

Nolan added one final highlight, sending a shot on a penalty corner just over the stacked pads of UConn goalkeeper Nina Klein for Yale's third goal at the 64:51 mark. Senior back Megan Kirkham, the stick stopper, assisted on the play.

The Bulldogs finished the game with three goals on seven shots on goal.

"Our scoring percentage was high today; we got some goals from a limited number of opportunities," said Stuper. "Our penalty corner unit is starting to come together. We have had some inexperience there, and people in new roles, so it is nice to see their hard work start paying off."

Yale returns to Johnson Field to host Penn next Saturday at Noon.

Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity