The No. 14 Boston University field hockey team, which clinched the Patriot League regular season crown last weekend, begins postseason play with a home contest against fourth-seeded Bucknell University in the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Friday afternoon at New Balance Field.
The Terriers (12-5, 5-1 Patriot League), winners of five of their last six contests, enter postseason play following a very strong year, especially against conference foes.
The Terriers’ most recent triumph in the regular season finale, a 2-1 decision over American University, clinched the regular season title.
BU has been led throughout the year by senior forwards Amanda Cassera (team-leading 22 points, nine goals) and Taylor Blood (15 points, team-high seven assists) and sophomore forward Ally Hammel, who was named this week’s Patriot League Defender of the Week.
While the stats show a well-rounded Terrier side, BU head coach Sally Starr said she feels that they are essentially irrelevant.
“It’s a whole new season now, and Bucknell’s an outstanding team,” Starr said. “I think the biggest thing right now is our preparation this week. I’m anticipating a very competitive matchup against Bucknell, and I’m looking forward to a good game and I’m looking forward to seeing us get out there and compete.”
The Bison (9-8, 3-3 Patriot League) finished the regular season on an inconsistent note, both offensively and defensively. That being said, Starr said she believes that Friday’s matchup will yield a tight game.
“I do feel we have a very competitive match on our hands,” Starr said. “You know, it’s not your basic ‘one seed plays the four seed.’ A lot of times you think that’s an easier match, but if anything I think we have the more competitive match of Friday.”
Of Bucknell’s nine road matches, they only won four. Three of them were shutout losses and the Bison were outscored 21-3 in the five away defeats.
The Bison come into the semifinal contest riding a four-game winning streak, but as the rest of their regular season indicates, they are an unpredictable bunch. Starr isn’t too concerned about their inconsistent nature, though.
“Again, it’s tournament time, I think what happens pre-tournament is really irrelevant at this point,” Starr said. “[The Bison] qualified for the tournament, they’re a good team, and it’s a new season, a new game. I really feel they’re going to bring their best to us, and I think we’re going to bring our best to them.”
BU hasn’t lost to Bucknell since a 5-2 defeat on Oct. 4, 2014, and comes into the contest with a four-game winning streak against the Bison.
Looking to make it five in a row, Starr has emphasized the importance of clean ball possession and the avoidance of silly turnovers this weekend.
“I think something we’ve been trying to do and improve on all season is valuing the ball,” Starr said. “Take care of the ball when we have it, really outlet successfully, don’t force the play – take what’s being given to us. I like to call it PPR — Positive Play Ratio. I want to really make sure that we’re valuing the possession, and moving the ball around and creating really good point opportunities when we get into our attacking third.”
When asked what she is confident about come Friday, Starr said that she believes being the home team throughout the Tournament will benefit her side.
“I think for us, it’s definitely an advantage,” Starr said. “We get to walk out of our own locker room, we get to sleep in our own beds, we get to eat what we normally eat — all of that is advantageous.”
Regardless, the Terriers still have to go out and play, and all eyes will be on New Balance Field Friday afternoon as BU looks to prolong its impressive 2016 campaign.
