Behind junior forward Dalinda Banuelos’ first-half goal, the Boston University field hockey team defeated No. 15 University of California at Berkeley, 1-0, yesterday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Jack Barry Field.
After losing Friday night, 3-1, against the University of New Hampshire, a game which head coach Sally Starr termed a ‘huge disappointment,’ the 18th-ranked Terriers (9-6) rebounded with one of their strongest all-around games of the season.
Banuelos provided BU with all the scoring it would need with 15:16 remaining in the first half, as she took a pass from sophomore forward Kara Rossi and slapped it past her former high school teammate, California sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Knapp.
The rest of the game was controlled by the Terrier defense and goalkeeping. Senior Susan Harrington made six saves to record her fourth shutout in six games, as the team won for the sixth time in its last seven outings.
Both teams had chances to score in the second half, but both were denied by the crossbar. With 23 minutes remaining, junior Celeste Hubbard’s lifted shot off a penalty corner sailed past Knapp but deflected off the bar and out of bounds.
Six minutes later, California midfielder Nora Feddersen hit one off the bar following a scramble in front of the BU net. The ball was eventually cleared and the Golden Bears’ best scoring opportunity was wasted.
‘Cal is an attacking offense and our defense [played] excellent all game,’ Starr said. ‘They also helped bring the ball up which helped us get a lot of scoring opportunities.’
Unlike the game against New Hampshire, the Terriers were able to press and trap the Golden Bears effectively, which was the key to the game according to Starr.
The Terriers outshot the Golden Bears, 15-11, and had 10 penalty corners to Cal’s eight.
Offensively, though, Banuelos was the story of the game, and Starr could not say enough about her performance.
‘Dalinda was absolutely relentless out there, both offensively and defensively,’ Starr said. ‘She defined the competitive heart and desire I wanted to see.’
After a scoring drought that lasted a few weeks, the team seems to be converting on chances that it was not earlier in the season.
‘The coaches have been experimenting with us at different positions, trying to figure out where we play best,’ Banuelos said. ‘We’re finally figuring out what it takes to get our best matchups.’
Yesterday’s win was exactly what Starr needed after Friday’s disappointing loss to conference foe the University New Hampshire. The loss dropped the Terrier to 1-1 in America East play.
‘We had amazing scoring opportunities on Friday, but we just couldn’t convert,’ Starr said yesterday. ‘Even more important than the win today, I needed to see the team compete for 70 minutes with a competitive fire, which they did.’
On Friday, New Hampshire scored three goals within 20 minutes to erase what was a scoreless tie at halftime.
Sophomore Heidi Anderson, junior Jen Stamp, and senior Marcie Boyer tallied scores, as the normally strong Terrier defense gave up the most goals it had all season.
‘This is a defense that shut out Maryland and Princeton, so to give [New Hampshire] three goals is maddening, but otherwise the defense has been excellent all year,’ Starr said.
Hubbard continued her strong offensive output, tallying her team-leading eighth goal, with assists from junior midfielder Lindsey Domers and sophomore back Meredith Long.
It was the only time the Terriers would get one past the Wildcats’ sophomore goalkeeper, Christine Buckley, who made 10 saves for the win. For BU, Harrington stopped six shots.
Yesterday’s shutout proved the Terriers have gotten over Friday’s loss and are looking to continue their winning ways as the season winds down.
‘[Sunday’s] game shows we don’t dwell on past games and don’t let them weigh us down,’ Banuelos said.
The next test for the Terriers will be to build on yesterday’s win, their third in a row against a ranked opponent, when the University of Connecticut visits Jack Barry Field.
With its outstanding play lately, capped off by yesterday’s win, the team thinks things will only get better.
‘Today was a great team win,’ Starr said yesterday.
‘I couldn’t be happier.’