No. 18 Field Hockey Falls to Albany, 2-1
October 22, 2005 | Field Hockey
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a rainy contest at Jack Barry Field, the 18th-ranked Boston University field hockey team dropped its first conference game of the season in a 2-1 setback against Albany on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes broke a 1-1 tie in the 56th minute, just seven minutes after junior Ashley Parker (Cheshire, Conn.) scored the Terriers' lone goal of the contest.
The Terriers outshot the Great Danes 19-9 and held a 13-3 edge in penalty corners. Albany netminder Ashley Ross made 11 saves to secure the Great Danes' first-ever win against a ranked team. The loss snapped BU's nine-game win streak in conference play, dating back to a 1-0 overtime defeat against Northeastern on Oct. 24, 2003.
BU falls to 11-5 overall and 3-1 in America East play and is still alive in the race for the conference regular-season title. The Terriers will travel to face Maine on Sunday, Oct. 30, and the winner of that contest will capture the regular-season crown and host the conference tournament on Nov. 4-5.
Freshman Arlette Westdrop recorded assists on both goals for Albany, which evened up its record at 8-8 (2-2 AE) and stayed in the hunt for the fourth and final spot in the America East tournament.
BU had several chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the contest, earning four quick penalty corners, but was unable to capitalize.
After an early Albany timeout, the Great Danes were able to get the ball in their attacking zone and were awarded a penalty stroke in the 12th minute. BU goalkeeper Erin Prediger (Telford, Pa.), who made five saves in the contest, turned away the shot by freshman Michele Polizois, but Albany went on to take advantage of its first corner of the contest in the 20th minute. Polizois sent home a shot from the top of the circle on assists from classmates Meg Rinier and Westdorp.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Terriers looked for an equalizer early on in the second half, but a couple of good looks sailed just wide of the cage.
The visitors maintained their one-goal lead until the 49th minute, when sophomore Sarah Hudak (Souderton, Pa.) sent a ball into the circle from the left side to Parker, who tipped the ball to the top of the cage from seven yards out to knot the game at 1-1.
The Great Danes, however, would establish control in the minutes following the BU goal and were opportunistic in securing the game-winning goal. A hit from outside the circle by Westdorp barely glazed the stick of sophomore Kristen Holder before finding the boards.
BU pressured the Albany defense in the closing minutes of regulation, but came up short and suffered its first home loss of the season.
Prior to the game, BU honored senior tri-captains Colleen McClay (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Caitlyn Cassara (Roseland, N.J.) before they played in their final regular season home game. During halftime, the Terriers recognized the 20th anniversary of the 1985 team that reached the NCAA semifinals. Several members of the squad were in attendance for the program's annual alumni weekend.
BU will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 26, when it visits Harvard for a contest beginning at 7 p.m.
