Needing a win to keep its Patriot League tournament hopes alive, the Boston University field hockey team visits Holy Cross on Saturday for the annual Turnpike Trophy contest. Game time is set for 11 a.m.

The Terriers (4-10, 1-3 PL) sit one game behind the Crusaders (6-8, 2-2 PL) for fourth place in the Patriot League standings entering the weekend. BU lost a pair of home games last weekend to American and No. 8 Princeton and have four games remaining in the regular season, including a home game versus Massachusetts on Sunday (Oct. 27). 

In their most recent game on Sunday the Crusaders dropped a 2-1 road contest against UMass Lowell before being edged at Brown, 1-0, earlier in the week. Holy Cross has league wins over Holy Cross and Lehigh. 

Junior Minke Koomen leads Holy Cross in points (17) and goals (7) while senior Madeline Alderfer has added nine points on the strength of a team-best seven assists. Senior Lexi Tilton and junior Olivia Venezia have recorded three goals apiece. 

Senior Marcia LaPlante has started all 14 games in goal for the Crusaders and boasts a 1.90 goals-against average and a PL-best .815 save percentage. 

The Terriers, who are 2-3 on the road this season, continue to be led offensively by junior Ailsa Connolly, who has team bests in points (16), goals (6) and shots (35). Freshman Jodie Conolly has 11 points on four goals and three assists while classmate Ellie McIntyre has four goals and a helper for nine points.

In goal, freshman Caroline Kelly and senior Livy Golini have split time over the past month. Kelly stopped all seven shots she faced last weekend and has slim advantages in both goals-against average (2.43 / 2.63) and save percentage (.688 / .676). 

BU holds a 21-2-1 advantage in its all-time series with the Crusaders including wins and won the past 21 meetings dating back to 1983.