UConn Blanks Lafayette in Season Opener

Boxscore(.pdf)

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STORRS, CT (August, 30) -- Senior Laura Thibodeau (Southbury, CT) scored the first goal of the 2003 season for the University of Connecticut field hockey team en route to a 3-0 victory over Lafayette Saturday afternoon at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs.

Thibodeau got things started at the 25:00 mark.  The senior midfielder dribbled into the circle and fired one into lower left-hand corner of the goal.  The Husky defense was stifling in the first half, holding the Leopard's offensive attack to only one shot that was deflected away by senior keeper Marueen Butler (Red Hook, NY). 

Lafayette came out more aggressively in the second half as Missy Farrand had a great chance to get her team on the board.  Farrand found a seam in the Husky defense, penetrated into the circle and rifled a shot that looked like it would tie the score.  However, junior back Abby Ostruzka (Riverside, CT) got in front of it and deflected it away.  Ostruzka came up big later in the second stanza as Leopard forward Meredith Hahn beat the Husky defense up the left side, drew Butler out of the net and dished to teammate Alex Kelly.  Kelly had a wide open look at the goal but Ostruzka dove to her left and made a fantastic defensive save to preserve the 1-0 lead. 

UConn settled down from that point as Kelly Stolle (Warren, CT) found Jen Lozito (Fairfiled, NJ) wide open in front of the net for an easy goal with 29:20 left in the contest.  Mary Jo Malone (Water Mill, NY) capped the day off with an unassisted score with two seconds remaining in the game. 

The Huskies were in control throughout, holding a 19-to-10 shot advantage and forcing Lafayette keeper Casey Devlin to make 11 saves.  Butler stopped four shots for the Huskies.

UConn is back in action Sunday, August 31 as they take on Lehigh at 11:30 am in Storrs in day two of the UConn Field Hockey Classic.