When the Boston University field hockey team lost last Friday to No. 8 Northeastern University, an up-and-down 2003 campaign came to a close. The loss sent the BU squad packing, while the Huskies went on to defeat the University of Maine 2-0 for a third straight conference championship.
The Terrier loss was the second in three weeks against Northeastern, and both games went down to the wire before the Huskies earned a victory. The Terriers have lost four straight to the Huskies, with the last BU victory a 2-0 win in the 2000 season.
‘It’s always a good game between us,’ said senior forward Lindsey Domers. ‘I think we came out and put up a fight. We just didn’t do the things we needed to win. We played hard until the end, it just wasn’t enough.’
Northeastern defeated BU 1-0 in overtime on Oct. 24 when a defensive breakdown left Mari Creatini, the nation’s leading scorer, uncovered in front of the Terrier goal with 1:21 left to play. Prior to the defensive lapse, the Terriers had applied constant pressure on the Northeastern end and controlled ball possession for the majority of the extra frame.
Friday’s loss followed a similar blueprint for the BU squad. After cutting a 2-0 halftime deficit in half, the Terriers earned a sequence of penalty corners and appeared poised to take control of the contest. The heavy offensive pressure, however, allowed Northeastern to capitalize on an errant pass with a breakaway that effectively ended the Terrier comeback.
‘We had so much momentum after that first goal in the second half,’ Domers said. ‘Everyone thought we were going to come back and tie the game. Even down to the very end of the game, we thought we were going to do it.’
After the game, Terrier coach Sally Starr said she was proud of her club’s effort. Aside from becoming the only America East team to register a goal against Northeastern this season, BU forced Northeastern to play an excellent game to earn the win, the coach said.
‘We made them beat us, and that’s what you have to do against good teams,’ she said. ‘We played hard, we played smart and we didn’t beat ourselves. I’m really proud of this team’s effort today.’
The BU/Northeastern field hockey rivalry is arguably the most significant and storied duel in the conference, as the two teams have combined to win 12 of the 13 America East field hockey championships. The series has belonged to the Huskies recently, as the Terriers have struggled to regain the form that lead the team to the 2000 title with a 2-1 victory over the University of New Hampshire.
For then-freshmen Celeste Hubbard, Dalinda Banuelos, Genna Clough, Whitney Peabody and Domers, the championship seemed to be the first of many to come. The Terriers faltered, however, and in 2002, BU failed to make the postseason for the first time in 13 seasons.
Walking off Sweeney Field after Friday’s defeat, Domers was overcome by the unique combination of feelings that affects every senior who has to walk away from his or her final collegiate game wondering what could have been.
‘I was frustrated. No one likes to lose. I was also happy and sad,’ Domers said. ‘It’s been a great four years. I’m going to miss the girls and I’m going to miss hockey.’
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