Field Hockey: Terriers blown out by No. 11 Harvard

By Devora Slonim 

Boston University Field Hockey (7-6, 2-2 PL) fell 7-0 to the No. 11 Harvard Crimson (10-3, 5-0 Ivy) on Tuesday night at New Balance Field. 

This loss came at the end of the Terriers’ six-game homestand, following a devastating loss against Patriot League opponent Lafayette. BU struggled throughout the game, unable to generate offensive opportunities and taking consistent penalty corners, allowing the Crimson ample chances to score. 

Harvard, currently sitting atop the Ivy League, extended their win streak to six games. The Crimson had their highest-scoring game of the season, while sophomore goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo recorded her fourth consecutive shutout and fifth overall this season. 

Harvard dominated the first half of the game, scoring six goals and drawing 14 penalty corners.  

Less than five minutes into the game, senior midfielder Avery Donahue struck first for the Crimson after the Terriers took four consecutive penalty corners. 

Just over a minute later, Harvard took a 2-0 lead off a deflection in front by sophomore midfielder Kitty Chapple, assisted by junior captain Emily Guckian. Guckian’s assist marked her 17th point in just six games, extending her point streak to 10 consecutive games.

At the start of the second quarter, back-to-back goals by freshman forward Sage Piekarski gave Harvard the 4-0 lead and her first multi-goal game of her collegiate career. Piekarski’s first goal came off yet another penalty corner. 

Immediately following the two goals, Crimson freshman midfielder Lara Beekhius fired an explosive shot at the top of the circle, giving Harvard a 5-0 lead. 

Donahue struck again on the Crimson’s eighth penalty corner of the game, extending her team’s lead to 6-0 with 7:52 left in the quarter. 

Harvard finished their thrilling, high-scoring first half with 14 shots, while BU had no shots on goal. 

The Terriers looked to turn the game around in the second half. BU came out stronger, gaining more possession and putting pressure on the Harvard defense. 

Both the Crimson and BU had goalkeeper changes. Harvard’s senior goalie Sofia Castore came in relief for Shahbo, and freshman goalkeeper Sophie Ortyl took over for BU’s senior goaltender Kate Thomasaon.

This was Ortyl’s first collegiate appearance in net, and she stopped four shots in the process. 

However, momentum continued in Harvard’s favor as they took a 7-0 lead early in the third quarter. 

Junior midfielder Maddie Mullaney scored off the inside of the circle, sailing the ball past Ortyl.

Things slowed down in the fourth quarter, as there were only two penalty corners for the Crimson and no goals on either side. 

In the end, BU was unable to make a comeback and was shut out by a final score of 7-0. 

The Terriers look to bounce back this weekend as they head to New York for a pair of games against Colgate and Cornell. 

BU will face off against the Colgate Raiders for a PL matchup on Friday, Oct. 20, in Hamilton, N.Y. The 4 p.m. contest will be available for streaming on ESPN+.