TOWSON, Md. - Towson University field hockey junior
Katie McNeel scored a goal in her third consecutive game for the Tigers, but they could not overcome a two-goal deficit against Northeastern on Friday at Unitas Stadium, dropping their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener to the Huskies, 2-1.
How it Happened
- Towson (1-10, 0-1 CAA) controlled the pace early, registering three shots and two penalty corners over the first six minutes while holding without either for the first 11 minutes.
- Northeastern (6-4, 1-0 CAA) responded by holding the Tigers without a shot or penalty corner for the remaining 24 minutes of the half.
- However, the Tigers trailed just 1-0 at halftime thanks to seven saves from senior Emilee Woodall. Her seventh save with 10:52 left in the half was the 500th of her career.
- Unfortunately, the rebound bounced right to Megan Barrett who shot it low and into the far corner for her first goal of the season to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
- The first half featured two green cards and one yellow card with Towson earning one of each. The yellow card issued to senior Morgan Lowry with 2:47 remaining was for 10 minutes after she was whistled for a push.
- Undeterred, the Tigers would kill off the remaining 7:13 of the penalty without allowing a goal despite having one less player on the field and facing four penalty corners and two shots.
- Northeastern would finally break through 10 minutes, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal off a penalty corner with 17:26 left as Kellie Stigas scored her team-leading 11th of the season.
- Towson avoided the shutout on a penalty corner of its own when McNeel drove home her third goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Paige Zaleppa.
- Woodall finished the game with 10 saves and now has 503 for her career, the most among active players in Division I.
Inside the Numbers
- Three of the Tigers' 11 games this season have been decided by one goal.
- After missing the team's first eight games of the season, McNeel is now tied for the team lead in both goals (3) and points (6) with freshman Kendra Sykes.
- Zaleppa leads the team with two assists this season.
- Northeastern totaled 17 penalty corners, the second-most against Towson this season. Maryland had 20 on September 8.
Up Next
- Towson travels to Hofstra on Sunday for a CAA contest with the Pride beginning at noon.