Though the Boston University field hockey team fought hard in a 1-0 loss at Boston College last night, it is pretty hard for any team to win when it doesn’t record a shot on goal.
The Terriers were out-shot, 10-0, and were dominated for long stretches by the tenacious Eagles. The BU (2-2) offensive attack was marred all game by turnovers and what head coach Sally Starr called “unforced errors.”
“Our decision making was not as good as it needed to be,” Starr said. “It’s all about fundamentals.”
The Terriers did seem to have the fundamentals of defense down, however. The team stopped all five of Boston College’s penalty corners and played very well deep in their own zone.
Senior goalkeeper Susan Harrington had six saves on the night. The lone goal she surrendered came eight minutes into the game. Boston College (4-0) freshman Meg Palisoul collected a rebound in front of the net and knocked the ball between Harrington’s legs for the game-winner.
Most of the Terriers offensive chances came late in the second half. The team received its first penalty corner of the match with just 11:30 to go and ended up mishandling the ball on the inbound.
Starr said turnovers off restarts hindered the team’s offensive momentum, as did the aggressive Eagles’ play.
“BC put a lot of offensive pressure on us,” Starr said. “Their fast pace took us out of our game and we didn’t play our style.”
Starr was encouraged by the performance of junior forward Whitney Peabody, who saw her first action of the season after being sidelined by injury. Peabody was third on the team in scoring last season with six goals for 12 points and has scored more career goals than any other current team member.
But since most of last night’s action was in BU’s defensive zone, Harrington made the most notable plays for the Terriers. Early in the second half, an Eagle attacker was moving in all alone down the middle, but Harrington made a head-first diving stop to keep it a one-goal game.
After that stop, the momentum seemed to swing slightly toward the Terriers, but they were never able to make good on any opportunities.
The loss knocks the Terriers’ record to 2-2 after a 2-0 start to begin the season. After a seven-goal explosion against Quinnipiac University, the Terriers have been shut out in two straight games.
The team’s next match will be on Friday against American University in the Terrapin Classic on the campus of the University of Maryland. On Sunday, the team will battle the host team. The Terrapins are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Div. I field hockey poll.
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