Fourth-Seeded Terriers Blank Top Seed American to Earn Championship Appearance

Thursday, November 6

Washington, D.C.

11 AM

Boston University

(7-10, 4-3)

American – PL Semifinal

(12-6, 6-1)

Boston U.

American

Photo by: Casey O’Flaherty

Fourth-Seeded Terriers Blank Top Seed American to Earn Championship Appearance

November 6, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score Coach Starr Postgame

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Junior Nicole Lauro's first-half goal propelled the No. 4 seed Boston University field hockey team past the top-seeded American Eagles, 1-0, at Jacobs Recreation Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Lauro's shot was the lone attempt by the Terriers (7-10, 3-3 PL) in the first half, but that was all BU needed to get past American (12-6, 6-0 PL), who could not score on their eight corner attempts and 15 shots. BU held a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal for the game.

In the 29^th minute, freshman Delfi Coulo dribbled through the Eagles defense and pushed a ball into the circle for Lauro, who redirected the pass into the cage for the lead.

American maintained the majority of the possession and earned eight corners compared to BU's one, but stellar corner defense and two saves from junior goalkeeper Sophie Ortyl kept the Eagles off the board for all 60 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Delfi Coulo started off the game playing a ball into the circle in the sixth minute, but no Terrier could finish off the effort.
The Terriers successfully defended American's first corner in the ninth minute, blocking a shot from the top of the circle.
Neither team could work a shot on goal in the first quarter despite the Eagles' two corners.
In the 27^th minute, the Eagles would have a great chance as a forward turned and slapped a backhanded shot toward the net, but Lauro was there to clear the danger.
Then Lauro was in the right place at the right time to send Delfi Coulo's entry ball past the goalkeeper and give BU a 1-0 lead on its first shot of the game in the 29^th minute.
The teams would go into the half with BU holding a 1-0 lead.
American would earn its first corner of the second half in the 40^th minute, but the shot was blocked by the Terrier defense.
Then in the 43^rd minute, American had a shot blocked that fell right in front of the cage. They again put the ball on cage from point-blank range, but the attempt was pushed wide by Ortyl.
The fourth quarter started with three straight American corners in the first two minutes of play, but each time the Terriers were up to the task and Ortyl made another save to keep the Terriers ahead.
American's last shot of the game would come in the 47^th minute, as the Terriers would hunker down defensively and keep the Eagles away from the circle for the rest of the contest.
BU's one corner came in the 53^rd minute, but senior Caroline O'Brien's effort was blocked.

GAME NOTES

BU will head to its ninth Patriot League Championship game — the Terriers are 4-4 in those contests.
The Terriers now have a record of 9-2 in the Patriot League semifinals.
This is the first time the Terriers have won a Patriot League tournament game as the fourth seed.
For Lauro, that is her sixth goal of the season and her second career goal in the Patriot League tournament.
The win over American is BU's first since 2022.
This is the first time the Terriers have ever shut out Eagles.
They now improve to 14-9 against American all-time.

UP NEXT

BU advances to the 2025 Patriot League Championship and will take on the winner of No. 2 seed Lafayette and third-seeded Bucknell on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
The game will be streaming on ESPN+ and tickets are available at this link.