The No. 14 Boston University field hockey team has the chance to three-peat as American East Conference champions after capturing the regular season title with a 2-0 win over the University of Vermont on Saturday.
The Senior Day victory at Jack Barry Field leaves the Terriers with a 15-5 record at the end of the regular season, with goals from Suus Dekker and Hayley Hamada ensuring the Terriers will host every playoff game on their own turf.
“I’m happy to be home,” said Boston University coach Sally Starr of the Terriers’ home-field advantage. “I’m happy for these seniors to be home. I’m looking forward to it.
“Vermont never quit,” Starr added. “They were excellent on attack. To have a zero on that scoreboard is an achievement, not only to our corner defense but our entire defense and our team.”
But that zero could have just as easily been a two. The Catamounts (12-6, 3-2 America East) drew a much-needed penalty corner late in the second half, but Terrier goalie Kim Kastuk barely deflected a Catamount shot wide.
Vermont drew a second penalty, but the Terrier defense this time cleared the ball out after pressuring the Catamount attack.
“Our corner defense is an outstanding area of confidence,” Starr said. “That’s part of the game where you need to be confident and trust instincts.”
The Terriers first got on the scoreboard with less than seven minutes left in the first half. BU drew a penalty corner, but the intended shot was blocked. Dekker scooped up the rebound and put the ball away for her fourth goal of the season.
With 20:13 left in the second period, senior Hayley Hamada gave the Terriers an insurance goal, extending the Terrier lead to 2-0 — enough of a confidence booster to hold the Catamounts at bay for the remaining 20 minutes.
“When you’re confident, you’ll do well,” Starr said. “And when you’re second-guessing yourself, you get yourself caught not reacting the way you can.”
Hamada’s 10th goal of the season came on a shot from the left side of the goal that sped past Vermont’s Kristen Heavens. Gabby Hajjar was awarded an assist on the score, her first of the season.
“We are definitely a confident, mature team,” Starr said. “We do, however, have a lot of work to do at practice this week to get better. There were a lot of things today that showed that we’re doing well but there are also things we need to work on.”