O'Brien Hat Trick Leads Terriers to Fifth Patriot League Title in 3-2 Win Over Lafayette

Saturday, November 8

Washington, D.C.

1 PM

Boston University

(8-10, 3-3)

Lafayette – PL Championship

(12-7, 5-1)

Boston U.

Lafayette

O'Brien Hat Trick Leads Terriers to Fifth Patriot League Title in 3-2 Win Over Lafayette

November 8, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score Sally Starr, Caroline O'Brien & Martu Coulo Postgame Audio

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thanks to a hat trick from senior Caroline O'Brien, the Boston University field hockey team captured its fifth Patriot League title and 13th overall conference championship with a 3-2 win over Lafayette on Saturday.

O'Brien was the hero, scoring all three of BU's goals to earn tournament MVP honors and lead the Terriers to their first Patriot League title since 2018.

Her goal in the 57th minute would prove to be the winner after Lafayette had come back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 in the second half to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Junior Sophie Ortyl made two saves in the win, including key corner attempts from the Leopards.

O'Brien was joined on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team by senior Megan Wetzel, senior Martu Coulo and freshman Delfi Coulo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Less than a minute into the game, O'Brien ripped a backhand shot from inside the circle, but it went wide.
O'Brien came ready to play as just four minutes later, she worked the ball into the circle near the end line and sent in a ball to the middle that went untouched and out of bounds.
The Leopards were awarded the first two corners of the game in the first.
On the first corner, Ortyl came up huge with two saves. Then the Leopards' next shot went wide.
BU's first corner came just over two minutes into the second half and generated a scoring opportunity for junior Nicole Lauro, but her shot was saved by the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, Raffi Fragomeni.
O'Brien got on the board on BU's next corner, as freshman Molly Driscoll inserted the ball to Wetzel, who stopped it for O'Brien's rocket of a shot that was stung past the Lafayette keeper and into the cage at 17:43.
With just over three minutes left in the first half, Fragomeni denied Martu Coulo on a shot. Lafayette countered with three shots in 60 seconds, but the Terrier defense blocked one and let the two other chances sail wide.
The Leopards leveled the contest at 1-1 at the 40:49 mark when Rosalie van Gool found Maddie Evans for the tally.
BU earned a penalty stroke just before the end of the third quarter, but Fragomeni denied junior Maggie Driscoll's try.
Just 1:35 into the final frame with BU down a player on a green card, O'Brien re-entered the game and beat Fragomeni inside the near post to regain the lead, 2-1.
Shortly after pulling Fragomeni with under five minutes in regulation, Kiley Gallagher linked up with Stella Malinowski and the latter equalized the game at 2-2.
The Terriers earned a penalty corner with 2:46 on the clock and produced the game-winner off it.
O'Brien's initial shot was blocked, but Delfi Coulo sprinted to track down the rebound before maneuvering around three defenders and slipping the ball to O'Brien, who collected it before drilling a reverse-stick drive to the boards for the decisive goal.
BU did not allow a Lafayette shot after taking the 3-2 lead.

STATS

BU sported a 12-9 edge in shots, including 7-4 on target.
Ortyl collected two saves while Fragomeni recorded four stops for Lafayette.
Penalty corners favored the Leopards, 7-4.
The Terriers were assessed the only two cards in the game.

NOTES

O'Brien's hat trick was the first ever in a Patriot League championship game.
The hat trick was her second this season.
She improved her goals mark to 15 this season, which ranks tied for sixth all-time in Terrier history.
Her points total is now up to 37 this year, tied for eighth all-time in a single season by a Terrier.
The Terriers have improved their record in the Patriot League title game to 5-4.
They improved to 8-8 all-time against Lafayette.
BU will make its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance. Head coach Sally Starr has been at the helm for each NCAA Tournament game played by the Terriers.

UP NEXT

The Terriers will next play in the NCAA Tournament.
They will learn their opponent, location and game date & time on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 10 p.m. on the NCAA selection show on NCAA.com.