The No. 17 Boston University field hockey team faced mixed results this weekend when it defeated Lehigh University, 3-0, and fell to No. 2 University of Connecticut, 5-0. The two contests showed the disparity between the Terriers’ biggest strength and weakness: conference play and games against ranked opponents.
Many positives were on display for the Terriers (10-5, 5-0 Patriot League) this week. Senior midfielder Sofi Laurito netted two goals in the victory over Lehigh (3-11, 0-4 Patriot League) and junior back Bea Baumberger Altirriba netted two assists.
Sophomore back Allie Renzi won Corvias Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors Monday after making two defensive saves in BU’s loss to Connecticut (15-0). Although this is Renzi’s first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week accolade, she was a two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week last year in her freshman campaign.
BU continues to struggle against ranked opponents
BU has lost all five of its games against ranked opponents including its 5-0 loss at UConn this week.
The Terriers fell in similar fashion, 5-1, against No. 1 Syracuse University on Sept. 27. BU has faced a tough schedule in 2015, going up against three top-five teams (Syracuse [15-0], UConn and Duke University), then-No. 18. University of Massachusetts Amherst and No. 13 Boston College.
With three games left on the schedule, BU has just one more tilt against a ranked opponent. This final test will come Nov. 1 when the Terriers face No. 6. Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Conference success comes easy to the Terriers
The Terriers’ success against conference opponents is another story entirely. BU is 5-0 against Patriot League foes, with its latest victory being a 3-0 blanking of the Mountain Hawks.
BU sits atop the conference standings thanks to its success in the Patriot League and has one more conference matchup remaining. The Terriers are set to take on Bucknell University this Saturday at New Balance Field.
Their dominance in the conference peaked on Sept. 26 when the Terriers defeated Colgate University 9-0. In their five conference games this season, the Terriers have allowed a total of five goals and scored an impressive 26.
Marisa Ingemi covers field hockey for the Daily Free Press. She is also a sports radio host on WTBU and involved in BU Athletics social media department. An avid sports fan, Marisa is also the manager of the acclaimed lacrosse website InLacrosseWeTrust.com and the Boston Bruins beat writer for InsideHockey.com.
