The Boston University field hockey team completed a perfect three-game home stand this weekend, earning a 1-0 victory against Northeastern University Friday and upsetting seventh-ranked University of Virginia 2-1 Sunday. The two wins put BU above .500 on the season (5-4) and coupled with a 2-0 win over UMass-Amherst last Sunday, gave the Terriers a 3-0 record on their home stand.
The Terriers began the weekend with a match-up against Boston-rival Northeastern Friday afternoon. The Huskies came into the match riding a two-game winning streak, but BU was able to shut down their offense and emerge with the 1-0 victory.
BU came out strong in the first half, posting a 6-0 advantage in shots. The Terriers almost found the back of the cage early in the first half, when junior Sarah Shute put two straight shots on goal in the 14th minute. However, Northeastern’s goalkeeper was up to the task, making a great save on the first shot. Shute’s second shot was knocked away by a NU defender.
But Shute would not be denied again. With eight minutes left in the first half, junior Hadley Adams sent a shot on goal that was turned away by the keeper. The rebound was batted around until Shute finally buried it in the back of the net for her team leading fifth goal and 12th point.
That goal would prove to be all the Terriers needed, as graduate-student goalkeeper Erin Prediger and the defense earned its second consecutive shutout and third of the season. Prediger made two stops to preserve the goose egg.
“The defense is coming together,” said BU coach Sally Starr after the match. “Erin is coming into her game.”
Northeastern had more penalty corners in the game (5-3) but BU was able to keep the Huskies off the board. Starr, who received the game ball from her 300th win before the game, was quick to credit the team’s corner defense for their success.
“Our corner defense was much better,” Starr said. “We had a video session before the game. I think it was a combo of preparation and seeing it happen.”
It was the first time all season the Terriers have strung together multiple wins in a row, and Starr was understandably excited after the game.
“I can’t overstate the game’s importance,” she said. “It was key. We struggled early and had really talked after the Iowa match. It was important to start a new phase and play good hockey.”
The Terriers continued their winning streak Sunday, upsetting the University of Virginia, the No. 7 team in the country, 2-1.
After a scoreless second half, the Terriers gave up their first goal of the home stand. With 23 minutes left in the second half, BU surrendered a penalty corner to UVA, who converted with a high shot into the corner that Prediger had no shot at.
“I was ready to call a time out before that goal,” Starr said. “They had the momentum.”
The Terriers appeared to be in danger of losing another game to a ranked opponent this year, but were given a shot in the arm by the excellent play of junior Pam Spuehler.
Spuehler weaved her way through the Cavaliers defense with 18 minutes left in the game before firing a low hard shot into the far corner from the left side.
“We call her Pam ‘Tooler,’ and she tooled everybody [on that play],” Starr said.
“I was pretty pissed off,” Spuehler said, “and I took it out on that play. They were playing very physical, not necessarily to me but to the whole team.”
That goal seemed to reenergize the Terriers, who controlled the ball from that point forward.
With 11 minutes left to play, the Terriers converted that possession into a second goal. BU earned a penalty corner, and junior Sarah Hudak deflected the ball into the back of the cage for the game-winner.
“It was a set play,” Starr said. “A lot of our corner pieces are set up for tips.”
BU kept its lead safe by possessing the ball for most of the game’s remainder. When the final whistle sounded, the Terriers emerged with their first win against a ranked opponent this year.
“This was huge for momentum,” Starr said. “It was a legitimate win, not just a game where we got lucky. We’ve been waiting for this type of breakthrough, and we were expecting it from this team. We held our ground against a physical team today.”
Prediger played well again for the Terriers, even though she lost her shutout streak. The keeper saved seven shots.
“Erin played excellent,” Starr said. “She had to make some big saves. She’s getting her confidence back and the defense is playing well.”
The game ended a bad trip to Boston for the Cavaliers, who lost to BC Friday night before their loss to BU Sunday-this after they had lost just one game previously.
The Terriers will attempt to carry their momentum into league play next weekend when they play the University of New Hampshire Saturday.