Field Hockey: Terriers beat Lehigh 4-1 to open Patriot League slate

By Stevie Potter

Boston University Field Hockey (3-4, 1-0 PL) put a tally in the win column today in its first Patriot League match-up against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks (2-5, 0-1 PL), beating them 4-1 at Berylson Field in Allston. 

BU dominated the Mountain Hawks in all offensive aspects of Saturday’s game, outshooting them 20-4. Lehigh’s senior goalkeeper Maddie Kahn kept busy with a career-high 16 saves. The Terriers’ goalkeeping tandem of senior Caroline Kelly and junior Kate Thomason saved a combined total of three shots. BU was also awarded seven of the 11 corners seen in the match. 

The first quarter of the game yielded no goals for either team, but when the ball finally found the back of the net 3:27 into the second quarter, it was the Mountain Hawks that struck first. This would become the only goal scored by Lehigh for the remainder of the match. Senior midfielder Sarah Bonthuis was credited with the goal, making it her fourth of the season. 

Just two minutes later, BU answered with a goal of their own. Freshman midfielder Amalia Preece’s equalizer marked her first goal as a Terrier. 

The two teams remained tied until the third quarter, when sophomore forward Payton Anderson scored the go-ahead goal for the Terriers at 34:24 on a penalty stroke. 

In the fourth quarter, BU continued their offensive momentum and notched two more goals before the match ended. Anderson scored her second of the afternoon at 46:34, and senior forward Tess Csejka scored her first goal of the season and the Terriers’ final goal of the day with seven minutes left to play.

Since 2013, BU has won eight of its last 10 Patriot League season openers. After today’s win, BU improved their overall record against Lehigh to 8-2 since the two teams first went head-to-head on Oct. 12, 2013. 

The Terriers will have another opportunity to play within the Patriot League next week on Sept. 24 when they face off against the Holy Cross Crusaders.