Field Hockey: Sept. 1 Weekend Recap

By Alexa Podalsky 

Boston University Field Hockey (1-2, 0-0 PL) split their weekend series in Orono, as the Terriers defeated the University of Maine Black Bears (1-2) in overtime Friday and fell to the Ohio University Bobcats (1-1) Saturday.

BU v. Maine – Friday, Sept. 1

After a loss against Michigan State just one week prior, the Terriers came into this matchup looking for their first win of the season. 

Playing in only eight games last season, senior goalkeeper Kate Thomason earned the start — making six saves. 

The first quarter was scoreless but action-packed, with 15 fouls by Maine and a penalty corner from BU’s sophomore midfielder Megan Wetzel. 

The second quarter moved quicker after junior back Payton Anderson converted on senior midfield Thalia Steenssens’ corner attempt two minutes in. 

Wetzel received the ball from Steenssens and dropped it off for Anderson. From there, the defending Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year fired the ball from the top of the circle to give BU the 1-0 lead. 

However, in the second half of the quarter, the Terriers followed the Black Bears’ lead and received 15 fouls to nullify the rest of their first-half efforts. 

Almost ten minutes into the third period, Maine received their first penalty corner, and the Black Bears capitalized to even the score at 1-1. 

Sophomore midfielder Tereza Holubcova inserted the ball before it met the sticks of senior defenders Poppy Lambert and Kristjana Walker. The pair set up sophomore forward Mallory Mackesy who connected the ball to the back of the Terriers’ net. 

The third quarter continued to be action packed for the Black Bears. Mackesy had two more shots on goal — both of which were saved by Thomason. Soon after, freshman forward Saylor Kuefler scored her first goal of the season to give Maine the 2-1 edge. 

The Terriers answered back with another penalty-corner conversion. Freshman defender Alex Purcell collected Anderson’s rebound and backhanded it into the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. 

In the final quarter, tensions rose. 

BU freshman forward Nicole Lauro received a yellow card and Mackesy earned two more penalty corners — but a lack of meaningful plays on either side forced the game into extra time.

In the overtime frame, the Terriers were dominant. Lauro got things started with a shot on net just 13 seconds in, but Maine’s fifth-year goalkeeper Mallory Drayer made the save. 

Both teams were unable to capitalize on their corner attempts before sophomore forward Amalia Preece ended the game at the seven-minute mark. 

Steenssens continued to shine as fed the ball from deep in the Black Bears’ end up to Preece all alone in front of Drayer 

On the breakaway, Preece drove right in the circle before shooting the ball into the back left corner of the cage. This was Preece’s first goal of the season and second career game-winning goal. 

BU v. Ohio – Saturday, Sept. 2

Heading into the second game of the weekend, the Terriers struggled to keep up their momentum against the Bobcats. 

From the start of the first quarter, OU dominated the field. Fifth-year forward Katelyn Whittle received three penalty corners in a 26-second span and scored her first goal of the season just four minutes in. 

Whittle converted from the top of the circle with assists from sophomore defender Anouk Plaehn and fifth-year midfielder Weslee Littlefield. 

The Bobcats’ run continued throughout the first frame as Whittle doubled OU’s lead to make it 2-0 ten minutes in.

OU played an aggressive game with 17 fouls in the first — more than double the amount the Terriers received. 

In the second quarter, the Bobcats were rewarded with penalty corners while the Terriers struggled to keep up. By the time BU received their second penalty corner, OU had six under their belt. 

Tensions were high entering the second half for the Terriers. The Bobcats began losing momentum, and BU was hungry for a weekend sweep.

After some back-and-forth action on the field, the Terrier offense finally broke through in the third quarter on Steenssens’ third penalty-corner attempt. 

The goal was scored by sophomore attacker Caroline O’Brien and assisted by sophomore midfielder Natalie Epperson to make it 2-1. 

Entering the final frame, the Terriers were racing against the clock for a win. Their offensive strategies gave them the upper hand on the field, but they fell short of a comeback.

Steenssens drew two more penalty corners, but the ball could not reach the back of the net.

In a last-ditch effort, the Terriers pulled Thomason with two minutes left in the game. But after multiple fouls on the team, BU could not tie the game — resulting in a 2-1 loss. 

The Terriers will move on to play their Green-Line rival Boston College at New Balance Field on Friday, Sept. 8.