#10 University of Albany Field Hockey Sets New Single-Game Points Record in 9-0 Rout of Siena - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany field hockey (8-2) extended its perfect all-time record against Siena (0-9) to 14-0 on Wednesday afternoon, downing the Saints 9-0 at Alumni Turf. UAlbany tallied 31 team points, while four Great Danes matched or marked career highs in the win.

“I think today’s effort shows how thrilled our team is to be home after a long stretch of away games,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “I was glad that we played hard the entire game today, and that effort goes a long way towards our first America East game on Saturday.”

UAlbany wasted no time getting on the board, as Anna Bottino scored twice in the first 1:30 of the game. Her first goal to the lower left corner came courtesy of Kelly Bonner streaking down the middle. Amy Nicklin found the freshman Clifton Park product to make the score 2-0.

Bottino posted a career high with two goals, but added another point to her total when she found classmate Pahila Arnold at the 16-minute mark. Arnold beat two Saints down the middle of the circle to tally her first career goal.

Paula Heuser took over for a significant portion of the first half and the beginning of the second period. The sophomore scored her first goal of the game off of a penalty corner in the 29th minute.  She then found Echo Bretz on the far side of the goal as time expired in the first half. Bretz tipped Heuser’s pass to Kelsey Briddell, who was wide open on the left side for the goal.

The Great Danes took a 5-0 lead into halftime behind a 25-0 shooting advantage and a 4-1 edge in penalty corners.

UAlbany began to pile on the penalty corners to start the second half. Heuser inserted directly to Fiori Van Rijswijk with five minutes gone in the period. The German-Dutch duo made the score 6-0 behind Van Rijswijk’s first goal of the match.

Bretz handled penalty corner insertions for the remainder of the game, and ended the match tying a career high in assists with three. The senior inserted to Laura Page for the stop, and Heuser finished the play with a rip from the top of the circle. The penalty corner conversion marked Heuser’s 12th goal of the season.

The Purple & Gold continued to distribute the ball well deep into the second half. Bretz connected with Emily White for White’s first goal of the season

Briddell wrapped up scoring for the Great Danes on a penalty corner tip-in with 15 minutes left in the contest. Arnold found the freshman forward after a penalty corner stop from Page.

No. 10 UAlbany set a new single-game team points and single-game assists record with 31 and 13, respectively against the Saints. The previous records were set last season against Sacred Heart in a 9-0 win. Every goal scored by the Great Danes on Wednesday afternoon was the result of at least one assist.

Laura Page’s two assists against Siena give her 34 for her career, ranking second in Division I program history. The junior midfielder has 10 to her credit in 2014. The all-time single season record for assists is 19, set by Arlette Westdrop in 2006.

Maxi Primus earned the shutout win in the cage. She has seven clean sheets this season and 15 for her career.

Paula Heuser’s six points advance her to No. 9 on the UAlbany Division I leaderboard for career points, in just her sophomore season. The midfielder has 31 points this season, 14 shy of her rookie season total. The all-time single season points record is 50, set by UAlbany Hall of Fame member Tovah Atwell in 1998 at the Division II level.

The 10th-ranked Great Danes will look to continue their undefeated 5-0 home winning streak this Saturday. Phil Sykes’s squad meets UMass Lowell (4-6) at Alumni Field at 1:00 p.m.