Field Hockey: Playoff-bound Terriers to face Lafayette, Maine

By Gracie Davenport 

After clinching a Patriot League playoff berth last weekend, the Boston University field hockey team (7-6, 4-0 PL) will wind down their season as they take on the Lafayette College Leopards (4-10, 0-3 PL) Saturday and the University of Maine Black Bears (10-3, 4-0 AE) Tuesday. 

Following last weekend’s overtime win against Northeastern University, the Terriers are riding a three-game win streak—the longest of their season. Freshman forward Martu Coulo was named last week’s Patriot League rookie of the week, the third Terrier in the past four weeks. Including the game-winner, Coulo scored twice against Colgate to secure Boston’s playoff ticket.

Saturday’s matchup with the Leopards should not prove too challenging. Sitting comfortably on top of the Patriot League standings, Boston remains the only undefeated PL team regarding conference play. Meanwhile, Lafayette is still looking for its first PL victory. 

However, if the Terriers want to maintain their perfect conference record, they cannot simply sit back and relax. Lafayette is coming off a narrow double overtime loss to the nation’s third-best roster, Penn State. BUAt will need to subdue senior forward Molly McAndrew. She leads the team’s offense and scored the lone goal against Penn State. 

This match will take place Saturday at 12 p.m. at Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. 

Looking forward to Tuesday, Boston will find a much tougher opponent in Maine. After dropping their first two games of the season, the Black Bears have not looked back. Maine holds a 10-3 season record and is undefeated against their America East conference. They currently hold a nine-game win streak, four of them being shutouts. 

This game will be a huge test for the Terries before heading into the playoffs next month. If they want to find success, it will be crucial to shut down junior back Poppy Lambert. Lambert ranks fourth in the nation in goals with 14 in 13 games played. Of these 14, five of them have been game-winners. As a team, the Black Bears rank fifth among the nation in goals per game. Outside of their dangerous offense, Maine’s goaltending is just as solid. Fifth-year goalkeeper Mia Borley has made the most saves in her conference and holds the nation’s second-highest save percentage. 

This weekday game will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Boston College’s Field Hockey Complex in Newton, Mass.