University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Top Villanova In BIG EAST Opener
9/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Villanova, Penn. (Sept. 22, 2002)-- Junior Mary Jo Malone (Water Mill, NY) notched the game-winning goal and her first of the season, to lead the University of Connecticut field hockey team to a 2-1 victory in its conference opener versus Villanova on Sunday afternoon in Villanova. With the win, the Huskies move to 3-5 overall, 1-0 in the BIG EAST, while Villanova falls to 3-5 and 0-1 in league play.
Villanova jumped on the board first when Rory Rogers scored off a feed from Sarah Burdette just 50 seconds into the game. UConn answered at the 15 minute mark of the first period when sophomore Lauren Christie (Raby, Australia) took a pass from junior Abby Ostruzka (Riverside, CT) and slipped a shot past Villanova keeper Meghan Helwig, for her first tally of the season.
Senior Kelly Cochrane (Scarsdale, NY) set Malone up for the game-winner at the 46:06 mark giving UConn its first conference win and second win in a row.
Despite the first minute goal, UConn’s defense held off the Wildcats the rest of the way, led by junior goalie Maureen Butler (Red Hook, NY) who had eight saves on the afternoon. Helwig stopped five UConn shots for Villanova.
The Huskies return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 25, when they host Brown at 4 p.m. at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn.
