NEC Co-Player of the Week
DANIELLE ALLAN
So., F, 5-8, Rivderdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes
Allan scored a pair of goals against a pair of formidable foes last week. Quinnipiac’s sophomore forward, who scored eight goals as a rookie, notched her first tally of the season at America East member Maine. Hammering home the rebound of her initial shot, Allan brought the Bobcats within a 4-2 margin with nearly 11 minutes to play in an eventual 5-3 setback to the host Black Bears. The second-year Bobcat rattled the cage again two days later when Quinnipiac hosted Patriot League preseason favorite American. Allan blasted a shot from the top of the circle and beat AU’s goalkeeper to break a 1-1 tie in the game’s 27th minute. The Bobcats led the rest of the way en-route to a 3-2 triumph over the Eagles, who were a NFHCA Preseason Top 25 team.
NEC Co-Player of the Week
ROSIE BIRD, BRYANT
So., F, 5-7, Hamilton, New Zealand/Hillcrest
Bird was flying around the field when Bryant visited Ivy League member Dartmouth last week and the result was the first four-goal game by a NEC player in nearly one full calendar year. Bird scored four times, including three in the second half, during Bryant’s 6-5 setback to the Big Green. The sophomore forward’s four-goal feat was last accomplished by Rider’s Megan Pisani in a game against Bucknell on Sept. 24, 2011. After Dartmouth surged out to a 4-0 lead, Bird put Bryant on the scoreboard with only 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Her second goal of the game came in the 45th minute and cut the Dartmouth lead down to 4-3, but the Bulldogs could get no closer. The second-year Bulldog, who led all NEC rookies with 14 goals in 18 games in 2011, has scored seven times in eight games this fall.
NEC Rookie of the Week
ALLISON MUSCHS, RIDER
Fr., M, 5-7, Linkebeek, Belgium
Muschs ran her streak of consecutive starts to eight games as Rider faced UC Davis and Lock Haven last week. She recorded a goal on six shots and also logged a defensive save. The rookie midfielder scored her third goal of the season against Atlantic-10 member, and former NEC rival, Lock Haven. The tally, which cut the Haven’s lead down to 3-2, came on a penalty stroke as Muschs converted for the third time in three tries as a collegian. Muschs also made a defensive save in what wound up being a 5-2 setback to the Broncs’ former conference rival. Earlier in the week, Muschs fired four shots, two of which went on goal, in the Broncs’ 2-1 overtime win against UC Davis. The defensive-minded freshman also played a part in limiting UC Davis to three shots on goal over the course of 76:19.
The Northeast Conference Notebook
NEC TEAMS PREPARE TO PUT NON-CONFERENCE PLAY IN REAR-VIEW
It will be the final chance for Northeast Conference teams to tune up before league play begins.
All eight NEC teams will be in action this upcoming weekend, which will be the final weekend of non-conference contests.
There will be a full slate of conference games come Sunday, October 7 with more league contests scheduled for every Friday and Sunday thereafter until the regular season finales on October 28.
Until NEC Opening Day, teams will embark on their final preparations for the seven-game league slate that awaits.
Heading into the twilight of the non-conference schedule, four of eight NEC teams own winning records. Rider (6-2) leads the way with Sacred Heart (5-3) and Saint Francis (PA) (5-3) only one game off that pace. Quinnipiac (5-4) scored a key win on Sept. 23 to move above the .500 mark.
Rare Loss for Rider: Rider was riding a six-game win streak into last week’s matchup with Lock Haven. On a grander scale, the Broncs had won all 19 contests it played at Ben Cohen Field, which opened in 2010. The home winning streak was believed to be the second longest in the nation behind Syracuse. Unfortunately for the Broncs, their old conference foe snapped those streaks by posting a 5-2 win on Sept. 22. Lock Haven, which is in its second third season as an Atlantic-10 member, won NEC Tournament titles in 2007, 2008, and 2009, beating Rider in the title tilt each time.
Big Win for Bobcats: Attempting to move back over the .500 mark, Quinnipiac hosted Patriot League preseason favorite American on Sept. 23. The Bobcats’ jumped out to a 3-1 lead and hung on for a victory over a team that was ranked in the NFHCA Preseason Top 25.
Monmouth Breaks Through: NEC preseason favorite Monmouth started by losing its first eight games, but managed to snap its slide with a 5-1 thumping of Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks received a hat trick from junior Trish O’Dwyer, who was a first team all-NEC pick in 2011.
Everyone Takes a Turn: Five different players scored for Sacred Heart last week. Stephanie Frye, Melinda Feyko, and Karly Duven all scored their first of the year, Lindsay Kasten scored her second, and Liz Bergman scored her team-leading fourth of the year.
Saintly Start: After jumping out to the best eight-game season start (5-3) in program history, Saint Francis (PA) was idle last week. The Red Flash’s five wins tie the school record for victories in a season. They’ll look to break that mark when they visit Miami (OH) on Sept. 24.
Extra Strokes
Rider is 41-9 in its last 50 games (.820) … Bryant sophomore Rosie Bird’s four-goal week gives her seven goals in eight games this season. She scored 14 as a freshman. … Robert Morris sophomore Jamie Hartley notched two assists in a 4-2 loss to Liberty (Sept. 22). … Siena has played only one home game thus far this season and will not be back in Loudonville until Oct. 12.
Top Performers of Week
? Gabby Burgo (Rider)
The senior forward scored one goal in each of Rider’s two games last week. Her tally in the waning minutes of regulation forced overtime in an eventual 2-1 win over UC Davis.
? Rosie Bird (Bryant)
The sophomore scorer accounted for the first four-goal game by a NEC player since Sept. 24, 2011.
? Trish O’Dwyer (Monmouth)
The 2011 first team all-NEC selection was held without a goal over the season’s first eight games before erupting for four goals in the Hawks’ last two contests.
? Danielle Allan (Quinnipiac)
The sophomore played two games and scored two goals for the Bobcats.