Start with a young, inexperienced lineup. Add in one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Then, sprinkle in some backbreaking late goals by the opposition. What you get is a recipe for the frustratingly inconsistent season the Boston University field hockey team is experiencing.
The schedule has been a challenge to say the least. So far this season, nine out of the 12 teams BU has played are ranked in the top 25 of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. Some of the woes attached to the Terriers’ 4-8 record can be attributed to this tough competition.
It is also true that youth has been served this season. Out of the 11 starters, nine are underclassmen, including freshmen backs Nicole van Oosterom and Jacinda McLeod.
The biggest reason for BU’s sub-par record, however, has been a lack of consistency and timely execution, factors that can be attributed to the team’s youth.
‘I think it’s a consistency thing,’ BU coach Sally Starr said. ‘I feel like when we break down, the caliber of the teams that we’re playing is too good so they take advantage of these breakdowns.’
Indeed, many of those losses could have been turned into wins with some timely scoring. Three of the losses have been in overtime and another, against cross-town rival Northeastern University, was decided by a goal in the final minute of play. Many other games have slipped away due to momentum-killing goals allowed by the defense.
‘Our Achilles [heel] all year has been giving up bad goals,’ Starr said.
A closer look at the season’s statistics reveals the scoreboard doesn’t always represent the flow of play. Through 12 games, BU has outshot its opposition, 168-112. The Terriers have earned 96 corners while conceding just 62. And yet, take out a 7-0 thrashing of hapless Sacred Heart University and the Terriers have only scored 16 times to their opponents’ 26. The chances have been there, but the ball just isn’t going into the net.
The remedy to these problems depends on the entire team. The offense must take better advantage of its opportunities. The defense must avoid giving up momentum-draining fastbreaks such as those seen in this weekend’s game versus Duke University. And finally, the goaltending has to do a better job making that final stop. BU goalies have only been credited with 38 saves for the season while the opposition has 80.
But there’s good news ‘-‘- the schedule does get a little easier from this point forward. BU will have a chance to defeat its conference rivals and earn its fifth-straight America East Commissioner’s Cup this year.
And while the abundance of young players may have led to the previously mentioned inconsistencies, it bodes well for the future. The experience gained by playing so many top-ranked teams cannot hurt, either. Starr is not ready to start looking ahead to next season, however.
‘Everything that we were hoping to achieve for this season is still achievable,’ she said. ‘We can’t look at our record. We can’t even really look at the scoreboard.’
The law of averages dictates that the scoreboard will eventually mirror the level of play itself. If BU is able to keep up its intensity versus the opposition, something can still be gained from this season.
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