BOSTON - First place in the Patriot League is on the line Saturday (Oct. 3) when the No. 17 Boston University field hockey team hosts American at noon. The Terriers will honor the 30th anniversary of their 1985 final four team prior to the game at New Balance Field.

Both teams enter the weekend with a 2-0 Patriot League record. BU is 6-3 overall at the halfway point of the regular season while the Eagles are 7-3.

The Terriers will be looking to put forth a strong effort in front of the most successful team in program history. In 1985, the Terriers made their first NCAA appearance and advanced all the way to the national semifinals following home wins over Massachusetts and UNH. The squad entered the final four with a record of 17-2-2.

BU continues to have high hopes for this season despite a 5-1 setback at No. 2 Syracuse in its most recent game on Sunday, snapping a three-game win streak.

American is coming off a pair of 4-3 home wins last weekend against Holy Cross and Temple. The Eagles' other PL win came in overtime on the road at Lehigh.

The Terriers are 6-2 all-time against American and the teams last met in the 2014 PL semifinals with BU posting a 3-1 victory. BU's only home conference loss since joining the PL came against the Eagles in overtime in 2013.

The Eagles are paced by the scoring duo of junior Natalie Konerth (4g, 7a) and freshman Rafaela Rubas (6g, 2a), who have combined for 29 points. Senior Jess Davis has four goals while classmate Katie Lonsky and sophomore Sophia Crawshay have tallied three goals apiece.

In goal, senior Kate McBeath has started all 10 games and has a 2.21 goals-against average to go along with a .681 save percentage.

For the Terriers, junior Hester van der Laan leads the PL in points with 16 on six goals and four assists. Classmate Bea Baumberger Altirriba has 13 points and is tied with Konerth for the league lead in assists with seven. Senior co-captain Sofi Laurito has registered four goals and six others have at least five points.

Reigning PL Goalkeeper of the Week Cammy Jensen ranks second in the conference with a 1.86 goals-against average. The junior has started all nine games and sports a .691 save percentage.