Cassera’s score helps lead field hockey past Pacific, 1-0

Looking to break even on the weekend and the season, the Boston University field hockey team achieved their goal with a 1-0 win over the University of the Pacific at home Sunday.

The Terriers (2-2) came into Sunday’s matchup still reeling from a 3-0 loss at the hands of No. 13 Stanford University Friday. The Cardinal (5-0) started quickly with a goal in the first four minutes versus BU and then proceeded to roll with two second-half scores.

Stanford limited the Terriers to one second half shot and a mere five for the game. BU also accumulated just two penalty corners, a vital facet of their offensive attack.

In their second game of the weekend, the Terriers accounted for their lack of production on offense by relentlessly attacking the Tigers (2-3). BU produced chances early and often, assaulting the Pacific backline.

The Terriers produced 10 shots in the first half, their most of any half this season. BU manufactured quality scoring opportunities, earning seven first-half penalty corners, one of which would prove to be all they would need to knock off their West Coast foes.

In the 22nd minute of the game, BU lined up for yet another penalty corner set up by junior fullback Rachel Coll. The Greymouth, New Zealand, native delivered a pass to junior midfielder Sofi Laurito, who let a shot rip from the point of the half-circle. As the ball appeared to be headed wide right, the stick of sophomore forward Amanda Cassera redirected it toward the twine for her second goal of the young campaign. Laurito also earned her first assist of the season, giving her the team lead in points with five.

Going into the second half, BU’s play lagged, as the Terriers would stay prone to turning the ball over due to high-pressure defense from Pacific’s midfielders. Some of these turnovers almost turned costly, if not for the performance of last year’s Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, senior Valentina Cerda Eimbcke, who came up with four saves for her first shutout of the year.

“Our possessional discipline wasn’t here today,” said BU coach Sally Starr. “I have to credit Pacific, they played a very disruptive game, and they gave us a battle here today.”

Luckily for the Terriers, their offensive dominance largely persisted. As much as the Pacific midfield harassed BU dribblers, the Terrier forwards attacked the ball in the Tigers’ defensive third, causing an equally impressive amount of turnovers that often led to more scoring chances.

“When our strikers back-pressure, we really create our own attack,” Starr said. “Our strikers should be winning the ball more than they are, and they definitely put them under pressure, but sometimes we crashed a little bit on our tackles.”

BU had one final opportunity to give itself some insurance when sophomore midfielder Hester van der Laan earned a penalty stroke following a pile-up in the half circle. Following the official’s whistle, van der Laan attempted to lift the ball past Tiger goalkeeper Laura Pujade. However, her shot sailed well clear of the crossbar.

“Hester’s going to make that 95 percent of the time,” Starr said. “We made today’s game tougher on ourselves than we normally would. A second goal could’ve really helped just to relax us a little bit more.”

Some stout defense held the lead for the Terriers, as they headed to the locker rooms as 1-0 victors for their first win at New Balance Field in 2014.

Coming up, BU will face Chestnut Hill adversaries Boston College in Newton Friday. Going up against another gritty opponent, Starr said that her team can play up to its potential and reach mid-season form versus the Eagles (2-1).

“We pulled out the win today, but it was an ugly win,” Starr said. “And sometimes for a coach, a pretty loss, like the one at Northwestern [University], feels a lot better than an ugly win. But again, we’re being challenged right now for a reason, and so we just need to put our hard hats on and get to work next week to prepare for a very good Boston College team next Friday.”