A game against the fourth-best field hockey team in the nation is sure to be a challenge for every player on the opposing side. Strikers need to face a premier defense and goalie, backs need to defend some of the most versatile attackers in the game and coaches need to draw up some of their most creative plays in attempt to outdo their opponents.
But, when the No. 15 Boston University field hockey team took on the No. 4 University of Connecticut yesterday in its non-conference finale, the toughest task for any player on the Terrier side of the field was assigned to sophomore netminder Julie Collins.
After senior starting goalie Amanda Smith was deemed unable to play after suffering a concussion in Saturday’s game against University of New Hampshire, Collins inherited starting duties against the Huskies, arguably the toughest opponent BU has faced this season. The Terriers were shut out, 3-0, but despite a lackluster effort from the rest of the team, Collins performed admirably in her first collegiate start.
“I think she did really well,” said BU coach Sally Starr. “I think she made some really good stops. I think, for her first start, she did very well.”
Collins started the season as the team’s closer, playing the second half of the Terriers’ first four games and six of their first seven. In 245 minutes, she racked up a 1.42 goals-against average and made 10 saves.
More recently, Smith had been playing both halves, but her injury gave Collins the opportunity to see in-game action for the first time in a month, where she had the daunting responsibility of brushing off the cobwebs and doing her best to give the Terriers a chance to win against a team with the nation’s 10th best goals-per-game average at 3.33.
On an afternoon when the Terrier attack was at a minimum &- BU was outshot 18-7 &-Collins’s job was all the more difficult. She faced 10 shots on goal and made seven saves, including defending the net perfectly during an opening flurry of offense by the Huskies in which they took seven shots and earned three corners in the first seven minutes.
Her seven saves were well above the 2.73 average that a strong Terrier defense has built over the course of the season. While the Terrier defense has generally blocked most of the shots taken by the opposition and has limited the number of shots taken altogether, Collins was tested many more times than usual against the Huskies.
UConn was able to find the back of the net three times. Two of the goals were the result of point blank tip-ins following an initial save or blocked shot. The other was the result of a shot from directly in front of the goal by UConn striker Anne Jeute after she was able to dribble to that point uncontested by the BU defense. Otherwise, Collins kept the plays in front of her and managed to turn away seven other bids by the hungry UConn attack.
With two all-important conference games remaining on their regular-season schedule, the Terriers will play either Collins or Smith as netminder depending on the senior’s injury progress.
“It’s really day to day right now with Amanda,” Starr said. “I think that once Amanda gets herself to where she’s able to play, then we’ll evaluate the practice prior to the next game and then make a decision on who will start.”
Should Smith remain on the bench for the rest of the season, Starr is optimistic about the team’s chances with Collins wearing the mask and pads.
“We started the season where Amanda and Julie were splitting a lot of time, so we have a lot of confidence in her,” Starr said. “She has had game experience this year. So, it’s not a situation where she hasn’t seen playing time, which is fortunate for us. She has had good, quality minutes this year, and I think she has confidence in herself, and I think the team has confidence in her.”
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