Aug. 26, 2006
Stanford, Ca - The Stanford field hockey team opened the 2006 season with a combination of an efficient offense and a stingy defense to record a decisive 2-1 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon at the Varsity Field Hockey Turf.
The victory gave Stanford added confidence for its Sunday home game (3:00 p.m.) against Maryland, the defending NCAA champion.
Stanford's offense tallied 20 shots while the Cardinal defense held UMass to only four shots, one in the first half.
Stanford's first goal of the 2006 season came at 5:13 of the first half when senior defender Aska Sturdevan fired a shot past UMass goalkeeper Becky Letourneau. Hillary Braun and Julia Drewes were credited with an assist on Sturdevan's goal.
The Cardinal then added an insurance goal at 23:36 of the first half on a unassisted goal from Jess Zutz, a junior midfielderr from Wilmington, Delaware.
UMass made the game even more interesting when Mary Shea scored on an unassisted goal at 67:23. But Stanford's defense stifled any further thoughts of UMass tying the game.
Stanford now prepares for the Maryland Terrapins, who broke Wake Forest' string of three NCAA titles last year, and are ranked #1 in the pre-season. Maryland returns 13 letter winners, including six returning starters, the reigning national player of the year, two All-Americans and five all-region selections.
Cardinal Catalogue: Saturday's game against UMass was the first of five home games to start the 2006 season ... Sunday at 3:00 p.m., Stanford hosts top-ranked and defending NCAA champion Maryland, followed by home games against American (August 29, 11:00 a.m.), Wake Forest (September 1, 1:00 p.m.) and Columbia (September 3, 11:00 a.m.).
Stanford (1-0)20=2
Massachusetts (0-1)01=1
Stanford Scoring:
Aska Sturdevan (Hillary Braun, Julia Drewes) at 5:13 of first half
Jess Zutz (no assist) at 23:36 of first half
Massachusetts Scoring:
Mary Shea (no assist) at 67:23 of second half
Goalie Saves:
Madison Bell (Stanford) 3; Becky Letourneau (UMass) 6