The Boston University field hockey team looks to add on to its season-high three-game winning streak in an away game Wednesday night. Standing in their way is the No. 9 University of Connecticut.
The Huskies, winners of 11 in a row and 14-2 overall, have been a force this season. At the other side of the table, BU (7-8) will look to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.
After an opening loss to Syracuse University, UConn has dominated. The Huskies have outscored opponents, 67-18, and peppered opposing nets with 365 shots for the season, an average of 23 per game. BU has done its share as well, outscoring and outshooting opponents 33-28 and 215-132, respectively, for the year.
Facing off against the nation’s best is nothing new for this season’s Terriers. BU coach Sally Starr’s team has already proved they belong on the same field with the No. 2 University of Maryland and the No. 3 University of Virginia, battling to a 2-0 loss against each.
The key to coming out ahead in this game will be shutting down Connecticut senior Loren Sherer, the nation’s leading scorer. Though that will be no easy feat, the Terriers are coming off a dominant defensive performance in their previous game.
In a Saturday afternoon tilt versus the University of New Hampshire, the BU defense kept prolific scorer Meg Shea out of the goal-scoring column for just the second time this year, en route to a 2-1 victory. The stingy back corps, led by senior Haley Robinson, will be looking for a similar performance against Sherer.
Boston University will look to a strong freshman group to control the play. Versatile back Jacinda McLeod kept the America East Rookie of the Week award in BU hands after a strong all-around week that included two goals and many important defensive plays. Midfielder/back Nicole van Oosterom had earned the honor the previous week.
McLeod and van Oosterom will be joined by upperclassmen Allie Dolce and Nikki Lloyd in leading the Terrier offense. Dolce has enjoyed a breakout junior season, tallying five goals and seven assists for the team point lead while Lloyd remains tied for third.
Although not a conference game, the match against Connecticut will serve as a good barometer for BU as they prepare for the postseason. A victory over such an elite team can do nothing but good for the Terriers’ confidence ahead of some important matches. In the coming weeks, BU will face off against conference rivals University at Albany and University of Maine to close off their season. Both teams are currently ranked ahead of BU and will look to put a stop to the Terriers’ recent stranglehold on the America East title.
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