Looking to build off a two-win weekend, the No. 23 Boston University field hockey team returns to action on Friday (Oct. 13) when it visits Holy Cross for a key Patriot League contest. The annual Turnpike Trophy tilt will start at 6 p.m. at Hart Turf Field.
BU is 8-5 overall and stands in first place in the Patriot League standings with a record of 3-0. The Crusaders, who last season made their first Patriot League tournament appearance since 2006, is currently a game behind the Terriers at 2-1 with wins over Lehigh and Colgate and a narrow 3-2 loss to American. Holy Cross has an overall record of 5-7 and is coming off a 5-1 loss at Columbia on Sunday.
The Terriers took over sole possession of first place with a 2-1 victory over then-No. 24 American on Saturday and most recently earned a convincing 6-1 triumph at Northeastern on Monday.
In a series that dates back to 1980, the Terriers and Crusaders have faced off 21 times and BU holds an 18-2-1 advantage, which now includes 18 straight wins after going 0-2-1 in the first three meetings.
This year's Crusader squad is led by senior Maureen Connolly, who leads all Patriot League players in points with 29 and is tied for first in goals with 12. Junior Emily Loprete has added 14 points on six goals and two assists while classmate Suzanne Noone has registered nine points, including three goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Marcia LaPlante has a league-best 113 saves for the Crusaders on the season and her .758 save percentage ranks second.
Three Terriers have scored double-digit points thus far and that trio is led by freshman Ailsa Connolly, who has 16 points on eight goals. Senior co-captains Kali Shumock (2g, 7a) and Grace Boston (4g, 2a) have recorded 11 and 10 points, respectively, and Shumock's seven assists are tied for second-most in the Patriot League. Boston is the reigning PL Offensive Player of the Week following her game-winner against American. In all, 11 Terriers have scored at least one goal this season.
In goal, junior Kathleen Keegan and freshman Millie Baker have combined for a 1.92 goals-against average and a .621 save percentage.
Now in its third year, the Turnpike Trophy is a rivalry competition between BU and Holy Cross. The Terrier men's and women's soccer teams have already been victorious in their Turnpike Trophy contests this season to give the Terriers an early 2-0 lead.
