Field Hockey Faces Cal to Open Home Stretch
October 25, 2013 | Field Hockey
Oct. 25, 2013
BOSTON - The Boston University field hockey team (10-5) will close out its regular season with three straight home games, beginning with a tilt against California (5-9) on Friday (Oct. 25) at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from New Balance Field on the Patriot League Network.
The Terriers will attempt to earn their third straight win after posting a pair of 2-0 shutout victories last weekend against Bucknell and Northeastern.
Despite their 5-9 record, the Golden Bears have taken ranked teams such as Northwestern and Duke to overtime before falling short. Most recently, Cal earned a 3-1 home win over UC Davis on Sunday after falling to them on the road, 2-0, the previous weekend. Their other wins this season have come against Michigan State, Dartmouth, Liberty and Pacific.
Friday's tilt marks the eighth meeting between the two schools. BU won the first six contests before the Golden Bears posted a 3-2 double-overtime win in their last meeting on Sept. 5, 2004, in Berkeley.
Cal is paced offensively by junior Lara Kruggel, who leads the squad in points (12) and goals (6). Freshman Andrea Earle has had a strong rookie campaign, posting 10 points on four goals and two assists.
Redshirt junior Courtney Hendrickson has started all 14 games in goal for the Golden Bears and boasts a 1.84 goals-against average to go along with a .789 save percentage.
BU has five players with nine or more points this season and freshman Amanda Cassera continues to impress with 16 points on eight goals. Sophomore Sofi Laurito has added five tallies while senior Anne Fruitema has put up four goals and a pair of assists.
The reigning Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, Valentina Cerda Eimbcke brings a 149:32 shutout skein into Friday's contest. She and Hendrickson are tied for eighth in the country in save percentage at .789 and her 1.30 goals-against average is good for 13th.
