Field Hockey to Host No. 8 Duke on Sunday
October 26, 2013 | Field Hockey
Oct. 26, 2013
BOSTON - Looking to match its win total from the 2012 season, the Boston University field hockey team (11-5) brings a three-game win streak into a home game against No. 8 Duke (12-4) on Sunday at New Balance Field. The contest, which will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network, starts at 1:30 p.m.
Paced by three first-half goals and four saves from junior Valentina Cerda Eimbcke, the Terriers defeated California, 3-1, on Friday night at New Balance Field. Freshman Hester van der Laan factored on all three Terrier goals, scoring one and assisting on the other two. Senior Ysi Schieb and sophomore Sofi Laurito also found the back of the cage.
Sunday's game will mark the 11th time BU and Duke have faced off. The Blue Devils have won eight of the previous 10 meetings. The past two tilts have resulted in 1-0 victories by Duke, including an overtime contest when they last met in 2011.
The Blue Devils are coming off a thrilling 2-1 overtime triumph against No. 7 Boston College on Saturday. Duke tied the game with 20 seconds remaining in regulation before winning it just 53 seconds into the extra session on a goal by Aileen Johnson. All four of the Blue Devils' losses this season have come against ranked teams.
Emmie Le Marchand is the offensive leader for Duke with team highs in goals (8) and points (24). She has eight assists to tie Abby Beltrani lead in that category. Jessica Buttinger and Heather Morris have added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Lauren Blazing has started all 16 games in goal for Duke and she entered the weekend with a 1.24 goals-against average and an. 818 save percentage.
Freshmen Amanda Cassera and van der Laan are the Terriers' top scorers this season with Cassera potting eight goals for 16 points and van der Laan adding 13 on four goals and five assists. In all, six players have scored at least two goals for BU through 16 games. Cerda Eimbcke had a lengthy shutout skein come to an end at 168:05 on Friday. She now boasts a 1.28 goals-against average and a .790 save percentage.
