In its season opener Saturday, the field hockey team fell to the University of Vermont, 3-1, in Burlington. Despite the outcome, the performance did offer some encouraging signs as the Bears turn their attention to their Ivy League opener this Saturday against Dartmouth.
Against the Catamounts, the Bears played much better in the second half than in the first. They also responded fairly well to the challenge of opening their season facing a more experienced team with three games already under its belt. The Catamounts had shut out their first three opponents, including 17th-ranked Providence College.
"I think one of the reasons it was tough for us was just because this was our first time out there (this year)," said Sandhya Dhir '08. "(We were) playing with different people in different spots. It'll just take some time for everyone to understand everyone else's (abilities). I think UVM had a slight advantage, this being their (fourth) game and our first, but it's not an excuse by any means for the way we played."
Brown got off to a slow start in the first half, when the Catamounts outshot the Bears by a margin of 12-4. But Brown goaltender Kristen Hodavance '08 made six saves in the period to keep the Bears close, holding Vermont scoreless until three minutes before halftime, when senior Danielle Collins scored a goal to give Vermont the lead.
Both Dhir and Head Coach Tara Harrington '94 attributed the rough start to nerves, as well as the fact that six of the team's starters, including two freshmen, had never started before at the collegiate level.
Things changed in the second half, when the Bears began to overcome their nerves.
"I think the kids started to get a little bit more confident, to step up a little bit more," Harrington said. "They started to get into the flow of our game plan, and (they were) passing the ball and moving the ball a little bit more out of the backfield with better consistency. We were also doing a great job on our counterattack when we were forcing UVM to turn over the ball. We were making smart passes to utilize the speed of our forwards and really getting the ball to them to create some danger in UVM's defensive circle."
Brown trimmed Vermont's advantage in shots to 7-5 in the second half. The Catamounts still managed to score twice in the period, on goals by senior Kelly McClintock at 40:33 and junior Maegan Luce at 59:34, but Dhir answered Vermont's third score 1:01 later, tallying the first goal scored against Catamounts sophomore goaltender Kristen Heavens this season.
"The goal I scored was definitely (about) me having confidence with the ball," Dhir said. "One of my goals for the game was, if I did have a one versus one against the goalie, with that I would pull the goalie away from the goal (and) just put the ball behind her or around her instead of dribbling right towards her and having her cradle the ball. I'm glad that I did it, but it definitely wasn't enough."
"We have very strong forwards," Harrington said. "Sandhya Dhir actually had our goal, and Andrea Posa ('08), who is one of the captains of our team, played very well. We also had a freshman (Tacy Zysk '11) start at left wing. ... They did a great job looking back when they got them the ball, and they did a great job defensively, helping us bring the ball back. We did have a few missed opportunities in front of the net, which could have made a big difference in the final score, but we'll learn from that."
Harrington and Dhir each commended Hodavance, who also stopped a penalty stroke on the afternoon.
The Bears turn their attention next to their first Ivy League opponent. Brown hosts Dartmouth this Saturday at noon on Warner Roof.
"This week is all about preparing for Dartmouth and having positive energy and a positive focus as we go forward," Harrington said.
The game was also Harrington's head coaching debut. Harrington joined the field hockey staff as an assistant coach in 1998. She replaces Carolan Norris, who was named an associate athletic director at Brown in May.
Harrington said she believes in her players' ability to improve for the upcoming games.
"We'll certainly take lessons from the UVM game and change some things around as we prepare to take on Dartmouth, but this is a great group of kids (who are) great field hockey players and very confident in what they do," she said. "We'll learn from it, and we'll be better for Saturday."
