Almost Famous

It was only fitting that their final game of the season took extra time. In their eighth overtime game of the season, no other team in all of Division I field hockey had played in more extended contests than the Terriers. Playing against Big Ten champion University of Michigan Saturday morning at Ohio State University, Boston University field hockey gave the seventh-ranked Wolverines a tight game before losing 4-3 in the extra period.

“For our first competitive NCAA experience in a few years, I thought we played very, very well,” said BU coach Sally Starr.

The Terriers got off to a lightning-fast start, scoring two goals in the first eight minutes. The first goal came off a penalty corner when sophomore Pam Spuehler sent the ball to freshman Holly Wiles, who drove the ball into the boards. Junior Amy Seaman followed that up minutes later, redirecting a loose ball past Wolverine goalie Beth Riley.

“We are a young team, and they showed they are ready to play by coming out and attacking,” Starr said.

But the Wolverines were determined not to go into halftime scoreless, and at 18:48, Kristin Tiner shot a ball from the top of the circle that deflected off a Terrier stick and over the head of junior goalkeeper Erin Prediger.

The Terriers kept on pushing forward offensively, and in the 29th minute, scored to make it 3-1, when sophomore Sarah Shute tipped in a loose ball that had been deflected by Michigan.

The last few minutes of the first half saw Michigan surging toward the BU goal once more, with several narrow misses. On the final play of the half, the Terriers were unable to convert on a corner play that would have put them up 4-1.

The second half belonged to Michigan, however, as it scored two goals while holding off the Terrier counterattacks. The Wolverines outshot BU, 18-5, in the second half and overtime – though game film showed more shots and a load of good chances for the Terriers, Starr said.

“The stats don’t show the true competitive nature of the game,” Starr said.

Michigan took two goals from Lori Hillman in the second, one of them coming on one of nine penalty corners the Wolverines had in the half. With the score tied 3-3, neither team could muster one last goal, although BU nearly scored in a scramble in front of the Wolverine cage. “We continued to compete the entire game,” Starr said. “It wasn’t a matter of losing composure. Michigan notched it up in the second half.”

The overtime period saw Michigan refusing to give up possession, even having one apparent goal waved off by referees, which was ruled a result of a high-sticking penalty. A couple minutes later, the Wolverines scored the game-winning goal on what began as a three-on-two break and ended with a tap-in by Eleanor Martin with 9:26 left.

“If we were going to be beaten,” Starr said, “I want it to be on a quality goal. That goal was a dribbler, it was pathetic, literally. We got unlucky and Michigan got lucky.”

After a play-in game on Tuesday, the coaching staff had three days to prepare their team for their first round game. Michigan had the advantage of having the entire week to rest and prepare. According to Starr, however, BU had plenty of opportunities to prepare.

The loss was the final game for seniors Caitlyn Cassara and Colleen McClay, who Starr said played “really well” on Saturday.

“You want to be walking off that field for the last time feeling like you gave your best effort,” Starr said. “They gave an excellent effort. Our seniors have been huge players for us and they will be missed. Right now I’m concentrating on supporting them.”

The Terriers stayed in Columbus Saturday night and returned home as a team Sunday morning. They finished the season with a 16-6 record.

“I’m very disappointed we aren’t playing right now,” Starr said. “We could’ve and should’ve been playing [Sunday], but I’m very proud of them.

“We reached all our goals this year,” Starr said. “We are better for this experience. This year was better than last, and next year will be better than this year.”