Field Hockey Blanks Northeastern in Key Clash
October 22, 2000 | Field Hockey
Junior Rachel Stillings (Escondido, CA) and freshman Celeste Hubbard (Detroit, MI) each scored goals and junior Susan Harrington (Tuftonboro, NH) notched her third shutout of the season to lead the 17th-ranked Terrier field hockey team to a 2-0 win over Northeastern University on Oct. 21.
"It's as big a win as we have ever had," said a jubilant Terrier head coach Sally Starr, as her team improved its overall record to 12-6-0 and 6-2-0 in America East. "It was big because of its significance."
The victory all but assured the Terriers a berth in the America East playoffs, which will be held early next month. It will be B.U.'s 11th straight appearance in the conference tournament.
Equally important is that Northeastern has its back against the wall, and it might miss the post-season tournament for the first time ever.
"If we had lost, we would be on the bubble," said Starr. "That's why today's game was like a tournament game."
After a scoreless first half, Stillings scored what proved to be the only goal the Terriers would need with 22:48 left to play in the game.
The goal, which was her fourth of the season and 10th of her career, came on a penalty corner with the assists to Kate Cusick and Jane Rogers.
With her team clinging to a one-goal lead, Starr listened to the advice of her assistant coaches.
"They told me I should put Celeste into the game so she could gain some experience," relayed the coach.
Heeding the advice, Starr put Hubbard into the game, and less than a minute later she responded with the first goal of her collegiate career. It came with 10:59 to play in the game and Robyn Kenney earned the assist.
Harrington did the rest, as she turned aside three Northeastern shots en route to improving her record to 12-6-0.
An interesting sidelight of the outcome is that it was the 250th win in the 23-year history of the sport at B.U. The overall record is 250-161-26.
"Our program has a proud tradition," said Starr, who is in her 20th year at B.U. and has a record of 236-138-21. "This year's team wants to continue that tradition."
Scoring
Northeastern 0 0 - 0 Boston University 0 2 - 2
Boston University-Rachel Stillings (Kate Cusick, Jane Rogers), 22:48 Boston University-Celeste Hubbard (Robyn Kenney), 10:59
Shots: B.U., 7; Northeastern, 9
Saves: Susan Harrington, B.U., 3; Kathleen Madaus, Northeastern, 2
Penalty Corners: B.U., 4; Northeastern, 8
