Hoping to bounce back from a tough loss to Northeastern University on Sept. 26, the Boston University field hockey team will travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, this weekend to take on Bucknell University Saturday afternoon.
Against the Huskies (8-2) on Sept. 26 at New Balance Field, the Terriers (4-4, 1-0 Patriot League) looked solid in the first half. BU only allowed Northeastern to gain two penalty corners and three shots, all of which were saved by senior goalkeeper Valentina Cerda Eimbcke. However, the second half of the matchup proved costly for the Terriers.
After not producing a single card in the first half, BU picked up four in the second half — a green card picked up in the 49th minute by sophomore midfielder Hester van der Laan, two yellow cards picked up in the 56th and 57th minute by junior midfielder/forward Sofi Laurito and sophomore forward Taylor Blood, respectively, and a red card picked up by Laurito in the 68th minute. These penalties helped Northeastern overcome a 1-0 deficit and take the contest, 2-1.
“I think that the biggest lesson that we learned is to play with more composure,” said BU coach Sally Starr. “We need to mature…I think that our youth came out in that game. But it was a gift type of game because it makes us understand that we need to mature.”
Since Laurito picked up a red card, she will sit out against Bucknell (5-2, 1-0 Patriot League) due to NCAA rules.
“She is not able to play Saturday against Bucknell, and she will not be playing Sunday [against Harvard University] by coach’s decision,” Starr said. “We have a talented team, and we need to make sure that this situation cannot happen again.”
For the Bison, the game against the Terriers will be their third game out of a four game home stand. Bucknell has split its first two home games with a 2-1 loss against Temple University Sept. 20 and a 1-0 win against reigning Patriot League champions American University on Saturday.
“Bucknell plays solid defense and are a very well-coached team,” Starr said. “It is a lot like the Lafayette game where they had an impressive win against Harvard. We just need to stay composed.”
Bucknell has put up impressive stat lines this season. In seven games on the year, the Bison have only let up six goals while posting four shutout wins. This is even more impressive considering Bucknell has conceded 11 penalty corners in its two home games while only taking five. The Bison have also scored in every one of their games thus far. In two home games this season, Bucknell has taken 18 shots while allowing 14 between their opponents.
For both the Terriers and the Bison, Saturday’s contest will serve as the first game of a back-to-back weekend. BU will make the quick turnaround and head back to New Balance Field on Sunday where they will face off against another cross town rival in Harvard University.
Alexander mainly covers field hockey for the Daily Free Press. On his days off, he catches up on playing basketball and soccer and cheers on the New York Giants, Knicks, and Yankees. He previously interned at the office of U.S. Senator Edward Markey.
