Over the last few years, Boston University field hockey fans have had the pleasure of witnessing consistent goalkeeping, and with the way the Terriers have started the season, it looks as if that is not going to change anytime soon.
In 2011, the Terriers (2-0) welcomed then-freshman Valentina Cerda Eimbcke to play goalkeeper, alongside junior walk–on Jess Maroney and senior Julie Collins.
Of the 20 games BU played that season, Eimbcke started in 14 and played in 18 games total, the most of the three goalkeepers on BU coach Sally Starr’s roster. That season, Eimbcke allowed 24 goals, — an average of 1.5 per game — saving 84 shots and finishing the year with a .778 save percentage.
The following season, Starr chose to employ a different rotation for her goalkeepers. In 2012, it was Maroney who earned most of the playing time. Maroney took full advantage of the opportunity, only allowing 14 goals, making 66 saves, earning herself a .825 save percentage and 9-4 record.
Meanwhile, Eimbcke had a shaky 2012 campaign. She started 12 of the 18 games the Terriers played and often gave up early goals that set the team behind. Eimbcke played 250 minutes less than Maroney but nearly allowed the same amount of goals.
“Valentina had a good year last year … She’s just really solid back there,” Starr said. “In practice, she’s working hard and getting better every day, and I think that’s what we as a team want to be doing right now.”
Through two games this season, Eimbcke looks like a completely different player than she did in the 2012 campaign.
On several occasions, she made great saves against Ohio University and the University of Delaware.
“She’s definitely healthier,” Starr said. “She had a knee injury that she was nursing all of last year, and she’s been playing with the Chile National Team when she’s home because their seasons are reversed so she gets to play a lot in the summertime, and I think all of that game experience and confidence has really helped her.”
Eimbcke’s knee injury seemed long gone during the opening minutes of the 5–1 victory over the Bobcats (0-2). Ohio had a corner where Eimbcke was able to stop the initial attack and then quickly move to the other side of the goal to thwart the Bobcats’ second attempt.
During Monday afternoon’s game against the Blue Hens (1–1), a turnover by the Terriers led to a breakaway opportunity for Delaware’s Toni Popinko. Eimbcke charged the ball, stacked her pads and saved what could have been a fatal second goal by Delaware.
A few minutes later, Eimbcke was able to sift through several players to find the ball and make an impressive save as the Blue Hens were threatening once again.
Following the game, Starr said she believes the future of BU field hockey is bright. From the looks of it, that future is going to include top-notch goalkeeping — for the next two seasons at least.
Eimbcke has proven thus far that she has what it takes to be a starting goalkeeper for a nationally ranked field hockey team.
“She’s fitter, she’s smarter and she has got a heck of a lot of confidence right now, as she should,” Starr said.
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