Liberty University
(8-1, 7-1BIG EAST)
Connecticut
(4-1, 3-1BIG EAST)
Liberty Shuts Out UConn 4-0 for First-Ever Win Over Huskies
3/14/2021 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Liberty Flames shut out the Connecticut Huskies 4-0 on Sunday afternoon at Howarth Field, their first-ever victory over the Huskies.
Liberty improves to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the BIG EAST after handing eight-time defending BIG EAST champion UConn its first loss in conference play since Oct. 25, 2013 (5-0 loss to Old Dominion).
The Huskies (4-1) suffer their first setback of the spring season and fall to 3-1 in conference.
Liberty's victory over UConn was its first in nine tries. The Huskies were previously 5-0 in BIG EAST regular season games versus the Lady Flames and 3-0 in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship.
Jill Bolton paced the Liberty offense with her eighth and ninth goals of the season, while Daniella Rhodes and Charlotte Vaanhold scored as well. Lady Flames freshman Azul Iritxity Irigoyen (6-1) turned in the best performance of her young career with a 12-save effort and her third shutout of 2021.
Scoring Summary
13' – LIBERTY – Jill Bolton (Daniella Rhodes)
22' – LIBERTY – Daniella Rhodes (unassisted)
24' – LIBERTY – Jill Bolton (Bethany Dykema and Kendra Jones) | Penalty Corner
37' – LIBERTY – Charlotte Vaanhold (Julie Daels)
Goalkeepers
W: Azul Iritxity Irigoyen 6-1, 12 saves
L: Cheyenne Sprecher 4-1, two saves
Turning Point
UConn outshot Liberty 6-1 in the opening quarter, but the Lady Flames made the most of their one opportunity. In the 13th minute, Rhodes intercepted a Kourtney Kennedy pass, and on the ensuing counterattack, she raced into the circle up the right side. The Liberty sophomore slid a pass over to a waiting Bolton, who scored at the 12:36 mark to put the Lady Flames ahead 1-0.
Liberty scored twice in the second quarter on four shots. Rhodes recorded her 13th goal of the season at the 21:50 mark from a challenging angle to the right of the cage. Liberty's lead grew to 3-0 following a Bolton penalty corner strike, assisted by Bethany Dykema and Kendra Jones, at 23:22.
The Lady Flames' fourth and final goal of the day came from Vaanhold midway through the third quarter (36:06). The junior forward took a pass from Julie Daels and swept a shot over the head of UConn goalkeeper Cheyenne Sprecher, who was charging hard to the edge of the circle at the time.
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty collectively made 14 saves in the contest, with 12 from Iritxity Irigoyen and the other two coming on defensive saves from Bolton and Bethany Dykema on UConn penalty corners.
• UConn outshot Liberty 19-7 in the contest and held a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners.
• Bolton, a two-time NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her third multiple-goal game of the season and the seventh of her career. The senior forward has 37 career goals, tied with Ashlee Krulock (2012-15) for the fourth most goals in program history.
• Through 27 games of her Liberty career, Rhodes has tallied 26 goals, 14 assists and 66 points.
• Sophomore defender Bethany Dykema recorded her sixth assist of the season in the game. She is second on the team in that category.
• After the Lady Flames' four-goal victory, they have now outscored Connecticut 8-6 in three games at Temple's Howarth Field.
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action next Sunday at Duke (3-7). Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. The Lady Flames and Blue Devils last met on Nov. 3, 2019, a 3-2 Duke overtime victory at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
We earned a 4?-0? shutout win over UConn this afternoon! This is our first-ever victory over the Huskies.
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) March 14, 2021
Final score presented by Patel & Dalrymple: https://t.co/L1EL187vF3 pic.twitter.com/wuKGgA3Xjd
Team Stats
BOLTON, Jill (8)
Assisted By: RHODES, Daniella
Breakaway, 10 to 25 in front
12:36
RHODES, Daniella (13)
Scored from right side on forehand strik
21:50
BOLTON, Jill (9)
Assisted By: DYKEMA, Bethany , JONES, Kendra
Scored on corner
23:22
VAANHOLD, Charlotte (5)
Assisted By: DAELS, Julie
Diving shot over GK's head
36:06
