On Saturday, the Boston University field hockey team flew, as fast as the Astroturf at Jack Barry Field could take them. On Sunday, it plodded, taking an early lead and clinging to it for most of the game. Not that the style of play would have mattered at all.
Erin Prediger earned her third and fourth shutouts of the season this weekend as the Terriers picked up a pair of wins against the University of New Hampshire and Yale University.
The BU defense stretched its opponents’ scoreless streak to 334:45. The Terriers (8-3 overall, 1-0 America East) started off their conference season with a 3-0 win over UNH (4-8, 0-1) at home on Saturday and followed it up with a 1-0 victory at Yale (3-8) Sunday afternoon.
The Terriers came out strong to start Saturday’s game, keeping the ball in their attacking zone for most of the first half. In the ninth minute, Amy Seaman sent a shot to UNH’s goal, but had it blocked by Wildcat goalie Margaux Shute. Fortunately for the Terriers, sophomore Sarah Shute was able to pick up the rebound and send it into the cage to put the Terriers up, 1-0.
“I think we played a very good hockey game Saturday,” said BU coach Sally Starr. “Offensively and defensively, we played a very smart game. It just made it better that it was a conference game.”
BU continued to put pressure on the Wildcats. In the 32nd minute, Sarah Shute attacked the cage again, but was unable to score. As both teams scrambled to collect the rebound, BU freshman Holly Wiles scooped the ball with her stick and sent it past several defenders for the Terriers’ second goal.
“I saw the ball bounce off the goalie and I went to get it,” Wiles said. “Then I just slid it in.”
Wiles, a rookie midfielder, had scored at least one goal in five of the previous six games. She was named the America East Rookie of the Week last Monday after scoring two game-winning overtime goals.
“Holly actually broke her hand in the game against Dartmouth College and was unable to practice all week,” Starr said. “We weren’t sure if she was going to be able to play, but she’s just getting better and better every game and more and more effective every game. We’re 11 games into the season now, and I can safely say that she doesn’t play like a rookie. She’s a veteran player now.”
UNH had several chances to get on the scoreboard, including two penalty corner opportunities in the dwindling minutes of the first half, but the Wildcats had trouble stopping the ball and were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
Chances for the Wildcats to score in the second half were limited. The Terriers controlled the ball offensively for most of the second half, rarely allowing it to pass midfield. In the 66th minute, midfielder Pam Spuehler broke away from the Wildcat defenders and passed the ball to freshman Lauren Alfaro for her first collegiate goal.
Saturday marked the first game for Spuehler since Sept. 2. The sophomore suffered a concussion and a wrist injury in practice before BU’s Sept. 10 match against Hofstra University and was only recently cleared to practice. It was her first assist this season.
“She’s an outstanding player and it definitely gives us another offensive threat,” Starr said. “I know that she’s definitely glad to be back out there, but Lizzie Perreault did a great job in her place. One of our strengths is that we’re not a team that relies only on one player.”
Sunday, the Terriers got their offense from another source. In the eighth minute of the game, Seaman, a junior forward, sent the ball to the back of the cage past Yale goalkeeper Elizabeth Friedlander for her second goal of the season.
That early goal would prove to be enough for the Terriers, who recorded their fourth consecutive shutout. Prediger collected nine saves in the match and has not allowed a goal since Sept. 20 against UMass-Amherst.
“I think we played well the first half,” Starr said. “I don’t think we played as well the second half, but our defense kept us in the game. Our defense has been exceptional.”
The Terriers look to make it six consecutive wins on Saturday when they hit the road to take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
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