Oct. 6, 2012

Box Score |

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Junior Ella Gunson scored a pair of goals and sophomore Anne Fruitema broke a 2-2 tie with her first tally of the season to help the No. 12 Boston University field hockey team capture a 4-2 road victory over Vermont on Saturday afternoon at Moulton Winder Field.

Senior Jacinda McLeod added a late penalty-stroke goal for the Terriers, who improve to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in America East play. The Catamounts, who got a 14-save performance from Stephanie Zygmunt, fall to 1-10 with an 0-2 conference mark.

BU never trailed in the game and held a commanding 33-7 advantage in shots and earned eight penalty corners while allowing just one.

"We overcame a tough start and certainly played better after halftime," said head coach Sally Starr. "Vermont came ready to play and both of their goals came off well-executed set plays."

Gunson opened the scoring in the 12th minute when she controlled the ball at the top of the circle before firing a reverse-stick shot off Zygmunt and up into the cage.

Vermont created a halftime deadlock thanks to a deflection by Colleen Slaughter that eluded sophomore Valentina Cerda Eimbcke at the 19:50 mark.

The Terriers broke the 1-1 tie when Gunson capped her first two-goal game as a Terrier just 5:26 into the second half. Off a corner, the junior redirected an offering from senior Nicole van Oosterom past Zygmunt to reestablish a lead for the visitors.

The Catamounts did not back down, however, and mustered another equalizer just five minutes later when Alana Izzo found Kelsey Bonner off a free hit.

With the scored knotted 2-2, Fruitema picked a great time to notch her first goal of the fall, as the sophomore dribbled in from the top of the circle before slipping a shot to the boards with 18:16 left in regulation.

"Anne Fruitema really stepped up for us, both as a vocal leader at halftime and on the field with the game-winning goal," added Starr.

McLeod created a late two-goal cushion when she converted a penalty stroke at 62:31. The stroke was issued after a hard tackle from behind while van Oosterom was charging towards the goal.

"Jacinda was solid in the back all day, both offensively and defensively, and it was nice to see her add a late goal for us," said Starr.

Cerda Eimbcke and senior Jess Maroney, who played the second half, each recorded one save in the BU goal and Maroney notched her fifth win of the season.

Prior to the game, BU was honored by a very nice gesture from the Vermont program, as the Catamounts presented the Terriers with a plaque honoring their 23 years of competition in the America East Conference.

The Terriers will return to action on Friday (Oct. 12) when they play host to Maine. Game time at Jordan Field is set for 6:30 p.m.