Coming off of a hard-fought battle against Syracuse University, the Boston University field hockey team will now take on conference play in the form of an America East Conference opener against the University of Vermont at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Jordan Field.
The No. 18 Terriers, now 5-4 on the season, have won two of their last five contests, alternately losing to highly ranked competitors like Syracuse, Michigan State and Boston College.
In their most recent 3-2 loss against Syracuse, the Terriers recorded four shots, two penalty corners and 13 saves, 10 of which came from freshman goalkeeper Valentina Cerda. Cerda was named the America East Co-Rookie of the Week for her performance in the game on Sunday. In the latest NCAA ranking, Cerda tops the list in save percentage with .844 and ranks seventh in the nation with her goals against average of 1.09.
“Valetina is a freshman, so this is all new to her,” head coach Sally Starr said. “She has been working hard and is a great team member. She is very much about the team right now.”
The two goals scored against the Orange came from ongoing offensive spark junior midfielder Macey Gaumond and sophomore forward Amira Downes, who scored her first goal of the season. It was Gaumond’s seventh goal of the season, a category in which she still leads her team.
The Terriers now have 28 goals and 122 shots under their belts, with both totals leading their opponents, while they remain behind their competitors with 46 saves and 42 corners. However, this lack of saves does not signal lack of defense, according to Starr.
“Our defense is stingier in giving shots,” Starr said. “We are not giving a lot of shots to the attacking team. We are not happy with our tackling. We need an improved performance, both on team defense and individual defense, and really need to focus on those one-versus-one battles.”
Vermont, now 6-4 after defeating Dartmouth College on Wednesday, has won three of their last five contests and are in the midst of playing a three-game series in five days. The first came Wednesday when the Catamounts pushed the Big Green to their limits in a game that was tied 3-3 until senior forward/midfielder Emily Bastiaanse scored her fifth goal of the season with 54 seconds left in the game, earning her a second game winner this year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Zygmut completed her fifth double-digit save performance of the season by making 11 stops against Dartmouth. Excluding her most recent performance, Zygmut ranks sixth in the nation in saves per game with 8.56 and fifth in the nation in save percentage with .802. The 11 saves she made against Dartmouth gives her a season total 88.
“We have been working on our passing game and moving the ball to attack in,” Starr said. “We need to take what they’re giving to us and open the side of the circle.”
Sophomore forward Colleen Slaughter leads Vermont seven goals and turned in her second double-goal game of the season against Dartmouth. The Catamounts have now won four straight games at home and outscored their opponents 14-5 over that span. With their win on Wednesday, the Catamounts surpassed their total wins last season.
In their last meeting, the Terriers and Catamounts both opened conference play with the contest, a game in which the Terriers won 6-0 on the Catamount’s home field. Junior midfielder Nicole van Oosterom scored two goals, and junior midfielder/fullback Jacinda McLeod, junior forward Leslie Zules and junior midfielder/fullback Rachael White each scored a goal. The Terriers outshot the Catamounts 30-1.
“They are much improved from last year,” Starr said of the 2011 Vermont team. “They are not the same as last year. Coming off a great run against Dartmouth, who they haven’t beaten in a couple of years, gave them great confidence.”
Sunday at 1 p.m., the Terriers will return to play at Newton Campus Field with a contest against No. 9 Duke University, whose 5-4 record conceals the tough competitors the Blue Devils have faced this season. They have lost their last three games, the most recent loss coming against No. 2 ranked University of North Carolina on Saturday.
After a second consecutive double overtime game, the Blue Devils lost 1-0 to the Tar Heels, just a game after losing to the No.1 Old Dominion University. Duke was outshot 15-5, but red shirt senior goalkeeper Samantha Nelson was able to keep the Tar Heels at bay for over 85 minutes. Nelson made five saves on the game, adding to a season total of 29. The senior also has 13 goals against her this season and three shutouts.
English sophomore midfielder Emmie Le Marchand leads Duke in goals with seven and has two assists this season. Right behind the Brit in goals is junior midfielder Devon Gagliardi with four and one assist.
Duke has 17 goals and 160 shots with 29 saves and 67 corners.
“Duke is an outstanding team,” Starr said. “They are fast and smart on the ball. Our defensive game is going to have to be good to counteract their offense and keep them out of the goalmouth.”
The last time the Terriers and Blue Devils met, the Terriers were shut out 1-0. Graduated senior goalkeeper Amanda Smith had two saves and senior forward Andrea Greene posted two shots, one on goal, for the Terriers.
Despite the loss, BU outshot Duke 9-6, but came up short in penalty corners with just two against Duke’s six.
“Last year, scoring was an issue,” Starr said. “This year, not anymore. We are confident and we’re working on our passing game and finding the open side of the field. It’s going to be a tough game, but I’m looking forward to this weekend.”
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