Field Hockey: Terriers go 1-1 in weekend matchups

Boston University field hockey (4-5, 2-0 PL) went 1-1 in two weekend matchups, besting Holy Cross (2-7, 0-2 PL) on Friday but falling to Harvard (6-2, 1-0 Ivy League) on Sunday. 

BU def. Holy Cross, 3-0

By India Clarke 

The Terriers beat Holy Cross by a 3-0 score in their first of two games this weekend. Along with being the team’s second Patriot League win of the year, the victory marked Head Coach Sally Starr’s 500th career win. She became the sixth Division I Field Hockey coach to reach the milestone. 

Senior Rachel Borzymowski stood out in the win with two goals on four shots. 

BU hit the ground running with freshman Martu Coulo scoring her first goal as a Terrier after just three minutes of play. The goal set the tone for the game to follow. 

BU’s defense did well to soak up any pressure from Holy Cross. The Crusaders greatest offensive push was in the first quarter, with three shots on BU senior keeper Caroline Kelly. However, the Terriers’ defensive fortitude limited any further shots on their goal after the first period.

After a relatively quiet second and third quarter, BU earned four penalty corners in the fourth quarter of their game, providing opportunities to strengthen its lead. Borzymowski capitalized on two of these corners and was assisted by graduate student Casey Thompson and junior Thalia Steenssens, respectively, to secure the win.

Harvard def. BU, 3-0 

By Gracie Davenport 

The Terriers were kept scoreless in a 3-0 away loss to Harvard University Sunday afternoon. BU’s strong goaltending was not enough to top the Crimson’s tight defense and overwhelming penalty corner advantage. 

Harvard dominated in the first, leading in shots 6-0, but was unable to get on the scoresheet. The Crimson had its fair share of opportunities, but BU senior goaltender Caroline Kelly stood strong to stop all three Harvard shots on goal. 

During the second, BU made its largest offensive contribution of the game. The Terriers recorded their only two shots on net, but Harvard’s nationally ranked senior goaltender Ellie Shahbo made both stops. 

Holding the frame’s 6-0 penalty corner advantage, the Crimson successfully converted on the second attempt to take the 1-0 lead. This corner goal came at the 23:16 mark as the ball redirected into the back of the cage off the right post. 

In the final 16 seconds of the quarter, BU earned its lone penalty corner of the first half, but the shot from junior forward Tess Csejka hit the post. 

BU cleaned up its defense in the second half and almost escaped the third unscathed. Alas, Harvard scored at the buzzer to extend its lead to 2-0. In the dying seconds of the frame, the Crimson were unable to convert on the penalty corner. However, in the absence of a whistle, the ball remained in play. This allowed Harvard’s junior fullback Mazarine Broze to find the back of the net. 

In the fourth, the Crimson scored on their 15th and final penalty corner to solidify the 3-0 victory. BU’s season record falls to 4-6, and Harvard improves to 6-2. With the win, Harvard extends its win streak to five in a row and holds a 26-3 record at Berylson Field dating back to 2018.

Over the Terriers’ first eight games, BU’s goalie tandem equally split playing time. However, during the last two games, Kelly has stayed in net for the entire game — which resulted in a season-high 12 saves against the Crimson. 

“I think Caroline has separated herself really since the UMass game,” Head Coach Sally Starr said. “As for us, we want to win, so we’re going to go with the best goalie and Caroline was outstanding today. She kept us in this game, gave us the opportunity.”

BU will look to turn the tide in a crucial Patriot League matchup against American University next weekend. American is riding a three-game win streak, and both teams are a perfect 2-0 against Patriot League opponents.

“American is known for having really outstanding penalty corners, so we really got to limit that,” Starr said. “And right now it’s all about fine-tuning. We’re so close to being really, really good.” 

The match will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Washington D.C.’s Jacobs Recreational Complex.