Despite the offensive struggles of Boston University’s field hockey team, the Terriers enter a rare weekend off with a record of 3-3.
The main reason for BU’s success has been the play of the team’s lone senior, goalkeeper Susan Harrington. Harrington has allowed only one goal in each of the team’s six contests, and has kept her team competitive as it tries to find itself offensively.
Harrington can’t do it alone, however, and credits her defense for a lot of her success.
“We’re playing much better defense than we did last year,” she said. “The defense works together and shifts together.”
At the beginning of the season, BU coach Sally Starr predicted that Harrington would have the best year of her career. So far, Harrington is proving her right, and wants to keep it that way.
“I also realize that this is my last year and that motivates me to do my best,” Harrington said.
On a team that features eight freshmen and seven sophomores, senior leadership is crucial, especially when the team struggles. As a goalie, Harrington cannot dispense technical advice to most of the team, but instead, leads off the field and provides inspiration on it.
“I try to use my years of experience and lead with my work ethic,” Harrington said. “I’ve also taken [backup goalies] Jodie [Gardner] and Erin [Prediger] under my wing.”
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BU is going to rely more on its freshmen for scoring as the team continues to have trouble putting the ball in the cage.
Freshman Caitlyn Cassara, the current America East Rookie of the Week, is just one of those players. So far, Cassara, Natalie DiSabato, and Amy Seaman have all scored, whereas last year, only one freshman tallied a goal.
With more forwards among this year’s freshman class, the first-year players are going to be looked to for some extra scoring punch.
Cassara said the team’s offensive problems and her own personal award are causing her to raise her level of play.
“I was definitely excited and I didn’t expect [to win the award] at all,” she said. “It makes me work harder because I keep thinking about it and I want to prove that I deserved it.
“When we don’t score I feel like it’s my fault and I try to do more and create extra scoring opportunities.”
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The Terriers still have a few weeks until America East play begins, and by then the team and coaching staff is confident that the offense will catch up to the defense and goalkeeping.
Harrington, who represents veteran leadership and the team’s solid defense, and Cassara, who embodies the team’s youth and potential offensive success, agree on the outlook for this season.
“We should have the best year since I’ve been here,” Harrington said. “I’m looking forward to winning the America East and advancing in the NCAAs.”
“The whole team feels we can accomplish our goal [winning the America East],” Cassara added. “We can definitely do better than we’ve been doing.”