Bears Fall to UNH, 6-1, in Season Opener

PROVIDENCE, RI - Junior Tacy Zysk (Walpole, MA) gave the Brown field hockey team (0-1) a 1-0 lead 12:03 into the game, but the Wildcats scored six straight goals as New Hampshire (1-1) earned a 6-1 victory over the Bears on Friday afternoon at Warner Roof.

The Wildcats dominated the early part of the game, earning several corners in the early going, but the Bears' defense answered each corner and shot to keep the game scoreless. After Brown failed to convert its first corner of the game, Zysk put Brown up, 1-0, at 12:03 on a shot following a Bears' free hit. From the top of the circle, junior Katie Hyland (Riegelsville, PA) sent the ball in, where sophomore Kit Masini (Ann Arbor, MI) lifted it towards the net. Zysk was there to tip the ball past UNH goalie Katherine Nagengast as Brown went up 1-0 on the Bears' first shot of the game.

However, from that point on it was all UNH, as the Wildcats held a 25-4 margin in shots during the first half, forcing sophomore Caroline Washburn (Pittsburgh, PA) to make 10 saves.

Whitney Frates tied the game at 1-1 four minutes after Zyxk's goal when her shot from the left side appeared to have been saved by Washburn, but the ball trickled in under her arm, hitting the back of the net. Frates then assisted Hayley Rausch at 28:04 for what would prove to be the game-winner. Kate Collins Smyth capped the first-half scoring at 30:26, scoring on a direct shot off a UNH corner.

The second half was more equal, with the Wildcats holding an 8-4 advantage in shots, but they doubled their goal total, slipping three past Washburn, including two from Meg Shea. Emily Buda converted a two-on-one rush with Frates in the 59th minute to account for the sixth goal.

Washburn finished with 15 saves, surpassing her previous career-high by four saves. The Bears have a quick turn-around and travel to the University of Delaware for a 12:00 noon contest on Sunday.