Senior Sarah Broderick scored with 20:03 remaining to lead Northeastern to a 1-0 win over Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship at Harvard's Jordan Field on Saturday. The Huskies (18-4) will now play Michigan State, a 4-3 winner over Harvard, Sunday at 2 p.m. again at Jordan Field.
After not being awarded a corner in the first half, the Huskies earned three in the first 15 minutes of play in the second stanza. On the third penalty corner, Mari Creatini sent the ball to stick-stop Leigh Shea, who set up a perfect ball. Broderick knocked the ball to her right to evade an oncoming defender, before blasting a shot across the face of the net and into the cage at 20:03 of the second period.
Emily Roy made one save for Northeastern, which enjoyed a 6-3 advantage in shots on a cold, rainy day in Allston, Mass.
Northeastern is making its second-straight NCAA Championship appearance and 12th overall. The Huskies advanced to the semifinals in 1996 before dropping a 2-1 decision to North Carolina at Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Northeastern (18-4) 0 1 -- 1
Connecticut (15-7) 0 0 -- 0
Scoring
First Half
no scoring
Second Half
NU - Sarah Broderick (11) (Leah Shea, Mari Creatini) 20:03 left
Shots: Northeastern 6, Connecticut 3
Penalty Corners: Northeastern 7, Connecticut 5
Saves: Northeastern (Emily Roy, 70:00, 1); Connecticut (Maureen Butler, 70:00, 3)