BOSTON - The Boston University field hockey team scored three goals in a span of just over three minutes in the fourth quarter to earn a 3-2 comeback win over Holy Cross on Friday afternoon at New Balance Field. The victory was head coach Sally Starr's 500th at BU.

Junior Natalie Epperson scored two goals, including the game-tying marker, and sophomore Nicole Lauro notched the game-winner to put BU up 2-1 in the 51st minute.

BU improves to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in Patriot League play. The Crusaders fall to 4-6 with an 0-3 conference mark.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Each team recorded a single shot in the first quarter but Holy Cross had the better of the play for the vast majority of the opening half.
• The Crusaders, who held a 6-3 shot advantage in the second quarter, got on the board first when Meggan Fourie sent in a cross-circle pass by Marissa McLean in the 21st minute.
• There were four shots in the third quarter and they were all from BU but the Terriers headed into the fourth down a goal.
• With just under 11 minutes left in regulation, junior Martu Coulo weaved through the Holy Cross defense on the left side of the field before penetrating the circle and sending a ball to towards the goal that was tipped high into the goal by Epperson at the 49:15 mark.
• Looking for more, the Terriers earned a corner less than a minute-and-a-half later and used it to take the lead.
• The corner play was set up for senior Payton Anderson, who drilled a ball toward the right post, where Lauro tipped it past Holy Cross netminder Mia McCloskey at 50:46.
• Less than two minutes later, another corner allowed the Terriers to cap the flurry and take a two goal-lead.
• Senior Tegan Poerio collected a blocked shot that was taken by Lauro and sent it towards the goalmouth, where Epperson punched it in for her second of the day and a 3-1 lead
• Holy Cross made things interesting with under five minutes to play as it earned a stroke that Fourie converted to get the visitors back within a goal.
• Down a player due to a yellow card, the Terriers withstood a late push from the Crusaders and secured the milestone victory for Starr.

GAME NOTES

• Starr is the sixth Division I field hockey coach to win 500 games at one school.
• BU held a 14-12 advantage in shots and earned six corners while allowing only one.
• Graduate student Kate Thomason made five saves in goal for the Terriers.
• McCloskey recorded eight saves for the Crusaders.
• This marked the first two-goal game of Epperson's career.

UP NEXT 

• The Terriers will return to action on Sunday (Oct. 6) when they visit No. 9 Harvard.
• Game time in Allston is set for 1 p.m.