GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: September 5, 2021
|
LOCATION: Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium
West Haven, Conn. |
|
GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
|
|
|
THE LEAD
Following an impressive season opening performance against a perennial top NE10 team, Adelphi, the New Haven field hockey team will get right back to work as they welcome the Saint Anselm Hawks to DellaCamera Stadium for a Sunday afternoon quarrel. After not playing for 670 days, the Chargers will take the field for the second time in under 72 hours when they host the Hawks with a 3:30 p.m. start on tap.
SERIES HISTORY VS SAINT ANSELM
New Haven and Saint meet for the fourth time in the history of the two programs with this the second non-conference battle between the two squads. The first two meetings both ended in 6-0 decisions in favor of the Hawks, the first of which came during the Chargers inaugural season in 2017 and the only other to be contest on New Haven's Blue & Gold turf. The last time they met, the Hawks took a 10-0 decision on their home turf before going on to a trip to the NCAA Championship game where they fell to West Chester.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
Just one game into the season and the future looks bright for the Charger field hockey team as they took a very good Adelphi team to the wire before dropping a 2-1 decision in the season opener on Thursday night. Senior Alexis Rider (Delran, N.J./Delran) drilled home the only goal of the night for the Blue and Gold as she scored from just inside the top of the arc firing through her defenders legs before smacking the back of the cage. New Haven had a number of attempts on goal on the night, taking 11 shots total, including outshooting the Panthers 8-3 through the first 30 minutes. Graduate transfer Keira Integlia (Branford, Conn./Branford) proved strong in goal, making three stops, while the New Haven defensive strategy was top notch all night long.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
The reigning NCAA Division II National Runner-Up, Saint Anselm opened 2021 cruising to a 6-1 victory over Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon in Manchester, N.H. All six of the Hawks goals came from different players, showing the depth that Saint Anselm possess. The Hawks also showed that depth by virtue of using 27 different players in their opening game. Overall, the Hawks outshot Franklin Pierce 27-5 on the afternoon. The Ravens did manage to score first before Saint Anselm, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, rattled off their six goals in succession. In goal, the Hawks relied on sophomore Mackenzie McConnell who stopped a pair of the Ravens five total shots.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
The New Haven Field Hockey team kicks off its fourth season in the history of the program with seven of its first nine games at home, part of an 18-game schedule that makes up the 2021 campaign. A total of 11 of the Chargers 18 games will come on the home turf at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. Following the regular season, the top eight teams in the conference standings following regular season qualifying for the NE10 Championship, which opens with a quarterfinal match-up on Nov. 2 at the home sites of the four highest seeds. The semifinal and championship matches will also take place at home sites on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7, respectively.
CHARGERS SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
Entering their fourth season as a varsity program, the New Haven field hockey team has been picked to finish 9th in the 2021 Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Chargers return to the field for the first time since the 2019 campaign when they finished with five victories, all of which came in NE10 action. New Haven finished the preseason voting with 87 points, the most they have earned in the preseason poll, keeping them inside of the top-10 for the first time. Saint Anselm earned the top billing, scoring 11 of the 15 possible first place points for a total of 190 points. Assumption and Adelphi split the remaining first place tallies with Assumption earning 171 points and one first place vote to finish second and Adelphi earning 163 points including three first place votes to finish third overall. Rounding out the top-five was a pair of teams tied for fourth place with 146 points, Stonehill and Southern New Hampshire.
UP NEXT
New Haven will close out it season opening three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when they host Saint Michael's for the Northeast-10 opener. The final test before the Chargers take their game on the road is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. All of the action can be followed live online with live video on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW, while live stats will also be available via NewHavenChargers.com.
