On Saturday, while many Boston University students will be dressed up as ghosts and goblins, witches and Antoine Dodsons, the No. 16 BU field hockey team will try to scare away the demons of a three-game losing streak as they take on conference foe University of Maine at Jack Barry Field at 5 p.m.
The team’s regular-season finale carries with it postseason implications, as the winner of the game earns the third seed in the upcoming America East tournament, while the loser will play as the fourth seed. That said, BU coach Sally Starr is not at all worried about the seeding, since both teams have already clinched a spot in the tournament.
“Both semifinal games are going to be very, very challenging matchups,” Starr said. “You need to win two games to become conference champion, so to me, the seeding is irrelevant.”
So as far as Saturday’s game is concerned, Starr has the team focused on things other than seeding scenarios.
“What’s most important is for us to compete and really play with intelligence, to play with energy, to play with synergy,” Starr said. “Not only in this game, but as we continue on into the postseason.”
Starr believes that the game’s result is in the hands of the Terriers (9-7, 2-2 America East), and that they will be able to gain the momentum they are looking for if they do one thing.
“If we take care of the things that we can control, and that’s playing at a high level, a high work rate, high intensity, then I think we can be successful,” Starr said.
Starr is also looking for BU to play well for the entire duration of the game, as opposed to the sporadic play it has exhibited recently.
“We’ve been a little inconsistent, particularly in the second half of the season, so I’d like to see us establish a consistent effort level,” Starr said.
Maine (13-4, 2-2 AE) is well-coached, according to Starr, and is riding a five-game win streak.
“Maine is a very athletic team,” Starr said. “If you look at their roster, they have a lot of high-level Canadian players.”
Half of Maine’s 20 players are from Canada.
Overall, Maine’s athleticism and talent will be an obstacle for the Terriers, meaning that BU will need to put a lot of importance on handling the Black Bears’ offensive capabilities.
“Their offense is explosive,” Starr said. “We really need to do a good job containing their offense.”
That task should be helped by the return of senior goalkeeper Amanda Smith, who, along with senior forward Allie Dolce, returned to practice this week. Smith suffered a concussion while playing Duke University on Oct. 3 and has been out of action since, while Dolce was sick for about a week before returning to practice Wednesday.
“Amanda is beginning practice again, so we’re going to see if she can come back in,” Starr said. “Allie had her first practice [Wednesday], and you can definitely tell she’s been sick. I’m really hoping she can get her energy level back to a good level for Saturday.”
While Smith and Dolce have made progress, their returns are not necessarily a given.
“We’re just taking it day-to-day with them right now, but both of them are in a good direction,” Starr said.
As if the postseason implications, conference opponent and a three-game losing streak are not enough motivation for the Terriers, they may be further encouraged by the fact that this is the last home game of the season and, for Smith, Dolce and fellow co-captain Maryette Stuart, the last of their collegiate careers.
“We’ll have a little senior ceremony before the game,” Starr said. “The underclassmen always like to send out the seniors with that last home game as a victory.”
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