No. 10 Boston College Edges No. 23 Boston University in Overtime Thriller, 3-2
By: Andrew Mason
BOSTON — An extra period of field hockey was needed for the fourth consecutive game in a row between cross-town rivals No. 23 Boston University and No. 10 Boston College. The Sunday afternoon game ended in overtime when Eagle freshman Fusine Govaert slipped a waist-high shot past Kathleen Keegan on BC’s second shot attempt of the extra session. The Terriers move to 9-6 overall with only three games left in regular season.
Perhaps it was the two teams’ contrasting experience levels in extra time that gave BC the edge over BU, as Sunday marked the Terriers’ first overtime game of the season compared to BC’s seventh.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Sally Starr noted the importance of getting her young team the chance to finally play under overtime rules, where each team is only allowed seven players on the field as opposed to the typical 11.
“Quite honestly, we haven’t practiced [overtime play] a lot,” said Starr. “Today was an opportunity for us to be better at it. For coaches to figure out what works best for us and to maybe train at it a little bit more.”
BU’s only first-half goal came from senior Allie Renzi in the 20th minute, which left the Terriers with a 2-1 deficit heading into halftime. The game seemed in the hands of BC throughout much of the second half, until BU freshmen Kathryn Scheerer sent a high-arching shot into the top-right corner of BC’s cage, ultimately forcing overtime.
Defensively, the Terriers were slow to start the game, allowing the Eagles to score on their first attempted penalty corner of the day. The Eagles were able to put a pair of strikes past Millie Baker, who got the start in goal for BU. The freshman finished with two goals allowed and no saves.
In the second half, the Terriers, anchored by goalkeeper Kathleen Keegan, looked more disciplined, posting a shutout for the full 35 minutes. Keegan, who also played in goal during the overtime period, ended the day with one goal allowed and four saves.
The tough loss still leaves the Terriers atop Patriot League standings at an undefeated 4-0. As the conference tournament inches closer and closer, the hosting advantage seems all but officially in BU’s favor. However, Starr is not letting her team’s focus drift to the impending postseason just yet.
“It’s so important right now to just take it game to game,” said Starr. “Stay undefeated in the conference to continue to position ourselves to host the conference tournament.”
The Terriers will have almost a full week to prepare for their next Patriot League foe, the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks, when they travel to Pennsylvania next Saturday.
“Take care of our bodies on Monday and Tuesday, and then train hard on Wednesday and really just get focused on Lehigh,” said Starr. “My understanding is if we were to win the game at Lehigh then we are guaranteed to host the conference tournament, so that’s plenty of motivation to go down there ready to compete.”
BU travels to Bethlehem, Penn. to take on unranked Lehigh this Saturday at 1 p.m.