Field Hockey: Terriers shutout by No. 4 Harvard
Featured Image by Jenny Chen
By Jenny Chen
Facing the No.4 ranked team in the country, Boston University Field Hockey (6-5, 2-1 PL) was unable to match the offensive firepower of the Harvard Crimson (10-0), and was shut out 7-0.
At the beginning of the game, the offense came from the Terriers. BU earned its first penalty corner of the game in the third minute after a shot from senior midfielder Martu Coulo, and from that, junior defender Alex Purcell quickly fired a shot towards goal that was blocked.
The remainder of the first quarter was fairly quiet, with both teams recording two shots in the 15 minutes; however, in the 14th minute, Harvard broke through the Terrier back line. Junior forward Sage Piekarski tipped in a shot from the edge of the circle by sophomore Martha le Huray.
In the second quarter, it was all Crimson offense, as they plummeted four goals past BU. Sophomore forward Emily Bronckers and freshman midfielder Rosa Kooijmans scored in the 21st and 29th minute, respectively, while le Huray added two goals – one in the 21st minute, just 17 seconds after Broncker’s and the other in the 25th minute.
BU’s best chance of the first half came from junior midfielder Maggie Driscoll, when she sprinted after a loose ball in the 28th minute, but her shot was fired wide.
After 30 minutes of play, Harvard outshot the Terriers 11-3.
“That really hurt, really, the second quarter determined the game today,” Head Coach Sally Starr said.
BU did not go down with a fight, and outshot the Crimson in the final 30 minutes of play 8-5. Their best chance of the game was off a shot by freshman Delfi Coulo in the 31st minute, which was saved in front of the goal by Harvard’s senior defender Bronte-May Brough as freshman goalkeeper Linde Burger was off her line.
The Terriers also earned more penalties than the Crimson, leading that category 5-1, but were unable to capitalize on any, while Harvard continued to find the back of the net.
Harvard added two more tallies in the third quarter, courtesy of Piekarski in the 33rd minute, tipping a shot from Brough, and junior midfielder Lara Beekhuis in the 35th, shooting off a penalty corner.
Closing out the game, the fourth quarter also did not see much action. BU recorded two shots, both in the 50th minute from M. Coulo and senior Megan Wetzel, but the Crimson tallied none.
As they look to their next game, Starr emphasized that the team needed to prevent double turnovers. “We would get to turn over, and then we’d give it right back to them,” Starr said.
The Terriers continue their streak of home games on Oct. 11 as they face Bucknell at 1 p.m. Streaming is available on ESPN+.