Field Hockey: Terriers fall to Michigan State in season opener

By India Clarke

Boston University Field Hockey showed promise in their first game of the season against Michigan State Friday, but fell to the Spartans, 3-1. . This match marked the Terriers’ first game back at New Balance Field since the 2021 season. 

BU (0-1, 0-0 PL) started strong, earning the first penalty corner of the game just over two minutes in, which resulted in a shot on goal but nothing more. They held much of the possession in the first five minutes of the game, showing aggressive offensive and defensive play.

The Spartans’ first penalty corner came in the first quarter during a strong offensive spell. Senior forward Emma O’Neill inserted the ball up to freshman midfielder Katelyn Dulin, but Dulin’s shot was deflected wide. Soon after, BU’s senior goalkeeper Kate Thomason came out of her goal in an attempt to close down Michigan State, but this left an open net for O’Neill who capitalized from a tight angle, making the score 1-0.

It took the Spartans several minutes to settle into the match, but they were dominant near the end of the first quarter. This resulted in a second goal for O’Neill on a penalty corner. Michigan State worked it well around the top of the D with graduate defender Tess Keppel eventually finding O’Neill, increasing the Spartans lead to 2-0.

Michigan State came out strong in the second quarter — looking to extend their lead. BU remained defensively solid with Thomason making some crucial saves on dangerous Spartan penalty corners.  

BU upped their game, becoming more creative offensively, but eventually their breakthrough came from a piece of individual talent. Sophomore midfielder Martu Coulo — last year’s Patriot League Rookie of the Year — split a couple of Spartan defenders on a solo run and chipped the keeper for a 2-1 scoreline at the end of the first half.

The Terriers came out aggressively in the second half with an early chance deflected wide. A green card for Michigan State’s senior midfielder Ashely Harlock also gave the Terriers the chance to close the one-goal gap, but BU lacked finish. 

The first penalty corner of the half went to Michigan State, and O’Neill capitalized once more to extend the Spartan lead to 3-1. The assist went to senior defender Ellie Wheatley and was deflected into goal by O’Neill for her hat trick.

The Terriers almost provided an immediate response with two shots from junior back Payton Anderson, but sophomore goalkeeper Cecily Charles made key saves to maintain the Spartans’ lead.

BU changed their keeper in the final quarter — giving the junior Michelle Prario her debut. Unfortunately, time was not on the Terriers side in the last 15 minutes of the game. Although they put up a good performance, Michigan State did an excellent job of remaining solid and patient, running the clock down.

With a great start to the season for the Spartans, the Terriers can take much away from this performance to improve throughout the year.

BU will look for redemption on next weekend’s road trip where they will match up against the University of Maine Black Bears and the University of Ohio Bobcats. The Terriers and Black Bears will face off on Sept. 1 at 2 p.m at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.