Penmen stonewall Owls

The university’s field hockey team welcomed the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen, ranked No. 8 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II Poll, for their home opener at Jess Dow Field. 

It was their third straight matchup against a top ten team. The Owls were coming off of two tough losses. They fell to No. 1 ranked Kuztown 8-0 and to No. 9 Mansfield 6-0 the previous weekend. 

Both of those matchups were non-conference tilts. This meeting with SNHU was the first of two matchups between the teams this year. 

The Owls have struggled against SNHU in recent history, losing the previous ten matchups. 

The Penmen spoiled senior day last year. 

The Owls came flying in, ready for a fight.

After withstanding an early onslaught from SNHU, the Owls mounted a pressure campaign of their own. They earned nine penalty corners in the first quarter.

The university would get 13 opportunities in total from the close corner spot. They failed to convert on any of them. 

Head Coach Kelley Frassinelli lamented the missed opportunities after the game. 

“We were that one step too many with the ball. We were that one touch too many,” Frassinelli said. 

The Owls managed 10 shots on goal, improving on their total in the last two games combined. 

It appeared as though midfielder Taylor Leckey, a senior, had scored the first goal of the game. It was called back. The shot was fired just a half foot outside the circle. Leckey was unable to score. 

Leckey mustered five shots, with two on target. She was involved in almost every play, serving as the unwavering engine of her team. 

Despite gritty effort from keeper Rachel Miller, the Owls’ defense faltered. 

They allowed a goal from midfielder Minke van de Poll, a junior, halfway through the second quarter. 

The Owls entered halftime down 1-0. They could be proud of their defensive effort, but their well was empty. 

In the third quarter, the Penmen scored their second goal. Miller dropped her padded legs, making a save, only to have the rebound lifted past her and into the net. She made 13 saves on 15 shots, for a save percentage of .866%. 

The game ended 2-0. 

Despite three straight losses and having to face a barrage of shots in each of those games, Miller remained stoic. 

“We have a whole team in front of us. We are all working for the same goal,” Miller said. “Us goalies really push each other to work our hardest, always.” 

It is not just the goalies who are banded together. Miller echoed the same sentiment as her captain. The plan? 

“Keeping it together. Using each other,” Leckey said. 

Strong leadership buoys this team. Frassinelli, who is in her 31st season, was upbeat. 

“This team, just knowing what they’ve done in the last week has been amazing,” Frassinelli said. 

Field hockey will get another shot at SNHU on Oct. 25 in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

Three days after their defeat at the hands of the Penmen, the Owls showed their resolve, defeating Mercy University 5-1 at home to bring their record to 1-3. 

The team faces another short turnaround. They travel to Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday, Sept. 16.