Aug. 26, 2011
Box Score | Coach Starr's Postgame Comments
PHILADELPHIA - The No. 19 Boston University field hockey team put forth a valiant effort in its 2011 season opener on Friday against top-ranked Maryland but ultimately fell short by a score of 3-1 in the opening round of the Conference Cup hosted by Temple.
Senior Rachael White scored BU's lone goal and junior goalkeeper Jess Maroney made five saves in her first career start. Senior Jemma Buckley recorded a hat trick to account for all of Maryland's offense.
After allowing two goals right before halftime, the Terriers used White's goal just over 11 minutes into the second half to cut the deficit in half. Buckley completed her hat trick in the closing minutes to create the 3-1 final.
BU weathered four early corners by the Terrapins before nearly striking first in the 19th minute. White turned in a sharp redirect from the middle of the circle following a perfectly placed entry ball by senior Kate Murphy, but the elevated ball went right at Maryland goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti.
White got on the rebound, but Vassalotti kicked her second effort off to the left side of the circle. Sophomore Kat Spring charged in with Vassalotti out of position and looked to score. However, Maryland's Colleen Gulick was there to make a defensive save.
Shots for each team were even through the first 30 minutes of play. Buckley broke the scoreless deadlock with a reverse stick drive from the right side off a corner at the 32:10 mark and then found the boards again just 24 seconds later after dribbling in from the left side.
The vast majority of the second half was a midfield battle, with play quickly alternating from one side of the field to the other. Each team recorded only one shot in the first 25 minutes of the latter half, but the Terriers capitalized on their chance to get back in the game.
White made it a 2-1 affair in the 47th minute on a redirect in front of the cage off a feed by junior Leslie Zules, who drilled the ball towards the goal after collecting the ball along the right edge of the circle.
With BU looking to knot the contest late in the game, Buckley added an insurance goal off a corner in the 64th minute to prevent a comeback.
Maryland held a 12-6 advantage in shots and earned nine penalty corners to BU's one. The Terriers forced Vassalotti to make four saves.
The Terriers will have a quick turnaround, as they face Bucknell on Saturday (Aug. 27) at 10 a.m. in the second round of the weekend tournament. The contest was originially scheduled for Sunday but was moved up due to the incoming hurricane along the East Coast.
