WEST HAVEN, Conn. – New Haven field hockey will make the drive to northern New England for a battle at Saint Michael's on Saturday at noon.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Chargers are 0-1 all-time against Saint Michael's, having dropped the only previous matchup last season at home.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS (4-8, 4-4 NE10)
The Chargers have played four of their last five games against nationally ranked opponents, most recently coming against No. 8 Assumption on Wednesday, and then-No. 2 West Chester on Sunday, who moved up to No. 1 in the nation in this week's NFHCA rankings. On Oct. 2, New Haven pulled out a 1-0 victory at Southern Connecticut State behind the first career goal for freshman
Anna Racine (Whiteford, Md./North Hartford). The Chargers have not lost a game this year in which they have scored, winning four games in NE10 play, and suffering eight shutout losses thus far in 2019.
In their third season as a varsity program, the Chargers have already taken significant strides forward. After jumping out to their best start in NE10 play in program history, the Chargers have also set a new program record for goals in a game with their 4-2 win over Molloy on Sept. 18. The team's most recent win over Southern Connecticut was also the first shutout win in program history.
Junior goaltender
Natalie Shaker (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) tied a career-high with 22 saves on Sept. 25 at No. 9 Adelphi, ranking her second in the NE10 this season in saves with 108.
Sophomore
Julia Battino (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) scored her third goal of the season on Sept. 21 at American International, moving into the team lead in that category. Sophomore
Alexis Rider (Delran, N.J./Delran) registered a two-goal night against Molloy. Sophomore
Taylor Geaglone (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) boasts a team-leading two assists, while freshman
Zharria John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) has the team's other assist.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE KNIGHTS (2-9, 2-6 NE10)
Saint Michael's has won two of its last three games after a 0-8 start to the year. SMC pulled out a 6-5 overtime win at Bentley on Oct. 3 and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Southern Connecticut last Saturday. The Purple Knights are coming off a 2-1 loss at American International on Wednesday.
Saint Michael's is averaging 1.3 goals per game offensively this season, and is allowing a conference-high 4.25 goals per contest. Senior MaKayla Foster (6) and sophomore Jenna Puleo (5) have accounted for 11 of the team's 14 goals this season, and Puleo has two of the team's five assists.
ON DECK
Next up, New Haven will return home this coming Wednesday, Oct. 16 to face Saint Thomas Aquinas.
