HAMDEN, Conn. – No. 1 seed Connecticut and No. 2 seed Old Dominion advance in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship presented by Jeep. The Huskies defeated No. 4 seed Providence, 2-0, in the first semifinal on Friday, while the Monarchs moved on with a 3-1 victory over No. 3 seed Liberty. The championship is being held at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium.
The Huskies are making their 18th consecutive BIG EAST Championship game looking to win their seventh straight title. Old Dominion returns to the title game for only the second team, first since 2013. The Huskies won the 2013 title, 1-0 in overtime. The 2013 championship was held in Storrs, Conn.
The BIG EAST championship game will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It will be carried on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
No. 1 seed Connecticut 2, No. 4 seed Providence 0
Husky sophomore Maddy Wray posted three points to lead third-ranked UConn past Providence on Friday morning. UConn senior Antonia Tiedtke also scored against the Friars while senior Svea Boker had an assist. Redshirt sophomore Cheyenne Sprecher posted three saves in her 11th shutout of the season. After a scoreless first half, Tiedtke notched the first goal of the game at 33:48. After inserting a penalty corner, Wray picked up a rebound and found Tiedtke at the goal post for the score. UConn led 20-5 in shots and 8-2 in corners. The two teams went into halftime 0-0. At the 12:47 mark of the second quarter, Providence nearly took the lead as Mary O'Reilly caused a Connecticut turnover just outside the circle. She carried the ball into the right side and fired a shot to the far post. Izzy Mendez deflected the ball into the cage, but was called for a foul as the ball hit her foot.
No. 2 seed Old Dominion 3, No. 3 seed Liberty 1
Old Dominion struck early with a goal from Nicole Fredricks at 5:02. Liberty tied it up in the 19th minute with a goal from Lizzie Hamlet assisted by BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Daniella Rhodes. The Monarchs scored again before the close of the half as Riley Taylor put one past the Liberty goalie Allison Schaefer with a low backhand shot. In the 41st minute, Tori Harwood scored the insurance goal for ODU, putting the Monarchs ahead, 3-1. Liberty’s Rhodes had four shots. ODU’s Alice Demars and Ashleigh Thomas were credited with assists. ODU keeper Cam MacGillivray had two saves. Corners were even between the teams at 4-4.
2019 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship Presented by Jeep
Championship Central
Semifinals - Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium - Hamden, Conn.
Friday, Nov. 8
No. 1 Connecticut 2, No. 4 Providence 0
No. 2 Old Dominion 3, No. 3 seed Liberty 1
Final - Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium - Hamden, Conn.
Sunday, Nov. 10
No. 1 seed Connecticut vs. No. 2 seed Old Dominion, 1 p.m. ET (BEDN)