Last year, the Boston University field hockey team fell in the America East Tournament semifinals, ending its reign of three straight championships. The Terriers hope to avoid a similar fate against the University of Maine Friday at 4 p.m. in Albany, N.Y.
The Terriers (8-11, 4-1 America East) earned a No. 2 seed for the tournament while the Black Bears (12-6, 3-2) placed third in the conference. A 1 p.m. contest pits top-seeded defending champion No. 16 University at Albany against the fourth-seeded University of New Hampshire. The winners face off in the championship Saturday at 4 p.m.
In order to claim its fourth conference title in five years, the Terriers will need to best the Black Bears for the second time in six days. Sunday’s 1-0 win at Maine featured strong defense and impressive goaltending, both attributes that have sustained BU all season long. The Terrier backfield, along with senior Amanda Smith and Rookie of the Week Julie Collins in the cage, stopped a potent Maine attack that led the conference with 70 goals on more than 20 shots per game.
With the tournament approaching, the league office announced the All-Conference First Team, Second Team, All-Rookie team and individual awards. In total, eight Terriers were recognized for their efforts this season.
Senior captain Nikki Lloyd was a unanimous selection to the All-Conference First Team, joined by senior co-captain Haley Robinson and freshman Jacinda McLeod. Junior Allie Dolce, who paced the Terriers in points (20) and assists (8), earned Midfielder of the Year in the award’s second season. Dolce and freshman Nicole van Oosterom were named to All-Conference Second Team.
BU’s strong freshman class was also showered in accolades, as McLeod became the fifth Terrier in the last six seasons to be awarded Rookie of the Year. Five Terriers were also honored on the All-Rookie team: McLeod, van Oosterom, Macey Gaumond, Rachael White and Leslie Zules.
The Black Bears also earned its share of honors. First Team All-Conference Maine sophomores Kelly Newton and unanimous pick Lelia Sacre finished the year second and sixth in conference scoring, while second-teamer classmates Jocelyn Mitchell and Stephanie Gardiner placed third and fifth, respectively.
But such kudos are meaningless on the field and the entire Terrier squad will have to perform well if it wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s first-round loss to eventual champion Albany.
Friday will be the 30th all-time matchup between the teams, with BU ahead, 23-6. They have not squared off in the postseason since the 2006 title game, which the Terriers won, 4-1.
Even if BU can knock off Maine again, it will not be an easy road back to conference glory. The Terriers needed a comeback at home to defeat UNH, 2-1, and even a home crowd could not get them past Albany in a 2-0 loss. In a strong field where any team can win the title, BU is looking to return to the peak after a brief slip.
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