After a somewhat disappointing result against No. 2 University of Maryland, the Boston University field hockey team will have another chance to prove its national merit tonight when the Terriers take on the University of Connecticut.
UConn will be the sixth team the BU team faces this season that is ranked in the STX/NFHCA NCAA coach’s poll — a list that also includes No. 7 Michigan State. The Terriers have faulted in these prime matchups, compiling a 1-4 record against ranked opponents.
The Terriers split decisions against UConn last year, winning 1-0 at home and losing 3-0 at a neutral site to finish the season. They will look to channel the level of play of the last Terrier team to play in Connecticut — when the 2005 squad that fought tooth and nail before losing 5-4 in overtime.
“Last time we were at UConn, we had an outstanding game,” Starr said. “We’re not thinking about being on their field.”
The Huskies come into the game with a 14-2 record, owning the third-best winning percentage (.875) in the nation. The only teams with a better winning percentage are undefeated University of North Carolina and Maryland, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
However, the Huskies have hardly been tested this season, facing only two ranked teams, ninth-ranked Penn State University and No. 20 Villanova University a month ago.
“I don’t want to compare our season to [UConn’s],” said BU coach Sally Starr. “But the teams we have played like Duke and Maryland this year have prepared us to be a better team. Each game we’ve found areas we need to improve on. We are a veteran team that has taken the lessons and learned them.”
The lessons will need to be applied quickly against the Huskies, who boast a devastating offense. The Huskies are sixth in the nation in both scoring average and goals per game, with marks of 3.17 and 3.19, respectively.
“Connecticut is loaded,” Starr said. “They have lots of talented players. It’s a type of team similar to a Duke, a Maryland or a Michigan State.”
UConn freshman goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero has been in goal for most of the season, occupying the net for 1057:53 of the 1127:53 minutes of play. Mainiero has registered all 14 wins for Connecticut, gathering a .768 save percentage as well as a 1.04 goals-against average, the sixth-best in the nation among starting goalies.
Junior forward Lizzy Peijs leads the Huskies with a scoring prowess which has lifted her to 10th in the nation in goals per game (almost 1), and sixth in points per game, with a total of 2.13 points per contest.
“We’re really looking to play like we did against Duke or Maryland,” Starr said. “Connecticut has an excellent attack, but we have a defense that can handle them. Our defense can definitely rise to challenge.”
