Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
VCU
Northwestern Handed 4-1 Loss by Virginia Commonwealth
9/3/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 3, 2010
Box Score
Site: Richmond, Va. (Cary Street Field)
Score: Virginia Commonwealth 4, Northwestern 1
Records: NU (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten), VCU (1-2, 0-0 CAA)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Sept. 4 -- at William & Mary, 1 p.m.
RICHMOND, Va. -- Playing the first of three consecutive games against Virginia-based opponents, Northwestern fell by a 4-1 score at Virginia Commonwealth Friday in Richmond. NU junior Regan Mooney scored her second goal of the season to pull the Wildcats level at one in the first half, but the Rams went on to tally three unanswered goals to hold on for the win.
"We needed to be better on both sides of the ball today," said Northwestern head coach Tracey Fuchs. "We need to find ways to generate better scoring opportunities against William & Mary tomorrow."
Mooney's sixth career goal came in the 22nd minute off a feed by fellow forward Chelsea Armstrong, who upped her Big Ten-leading season points total to 10 on the play. Mooney's goal erased an early NU deficit after Virginia Commonwealth seized a lead in the 10th minute after a tally by Arielle Hess.
NU seemed poised to take the tie score into halftime until VCU notched what proved to be the game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining before intermission. The Rams' Kelsey Scherrer converted a shot off a penalty corner play to give the hosts momentum entering the break as well as a lead they would not relinquish.
The Wildcats controlled the run of play after halftime, outshooting VCU 8-4 over the final 35 minutes, but could not solve Rams goalkeeper Erin Jablonski, who finished with five saves. A second goal by Hess 10 minutes into the second frame provided VCU a two-goal cushion.
Freshman forward Nikki Parsley paced NU with three shots -- including a chance with five minutes remaining that went just wide -- while senior goalkeeper Katie Lynch stopped four shots on the afternoon.
Fuchs and Northwestern will try to get back to their winning ways on Saturday when they face William & Mary in Williamsburg. Game time at Busch Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
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