By Danielle Ossher
The field hockey team added yet another tough loss to its record, dropping the home opener 3-2 to Boston University Saturday.
Recruits, alumni, parents and students filled the stands for the team’s debut at Sweeney field on a cold, windy day. Junior goaltender Colleen Duffy sang the National Anthem, as she does for all home games, for the 250-person crowd.
Northeastern started the game with strong defensive plays to prevent scoring opportunities for the Terriers. After 20 minutes of scoreless play, BU netted the first goal of the game off a deflected pass, beating senior captain and goalie Liz Centofanti under the right arm.
Five minutes later, the Huskies tied the score when they converted on their first penalty corner of the game. Senior forward Harriet Hoyer tipped in the pass from freshman midfielder Pam Aldridge off the corner.
The Huskies’ defense stepped up early in the second half, defusing three consecutive penalty corners awarded to BU. With 17 minutes left to play, the Terriers scored off a pass from outside the circle that deflected high, hitting the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later, the Terriers tallied the game-winning goal after converting one of their seven corners in the game. After the goal, the momentum shifted to the Huskies, and the forward line increased pressure on the BU defense.
“We are very young, but we have a lot of really great talent on our forward line,” said junior midfielder Ashley Bascetta. “Each game keeps getting better and better. We’re clicking more, and hopefully we’ll start being successful.”
With one minute left to play, Northeastern was awarded its second corner of the game. Senior captain Ashley Webber passed the ball to senior captain Ashley D’Ambra, who set up Bascetta for the shot, bringing the Huskies within one goal.
Despite Northeastern’s late-game rally, they were unable to score another goal, and the win went to BU, 3-2. Centofanti made several great plays, tallying six saves, bringing her to 35 for the season.
“We have a great defensive unit this year and I think it’s keeping us in a lot of our games,” Centofanti said. “If we can keep our defense up and capitalize on our offensive opportunities, I think we’ll be a lot more successful.”
The Huskies, now 2-4, start a three game road trip against Providence Wednesday at 7 p.m. Last year, Providence had the edge, taking the game 3-2 despite goals from Bascetta and senior forward Stephanie Casper. The last Northeastern win against Providence was in 2004 with a score of 5-2. Then-senior captain Whitney Shean had six points including the game-winning goal.
They will be back at Sweeney Field Sunday, Sept. 20, playing New Hampshire at 2 p.m. to begin a six-game home stretch.
“When it comes down to it, we just need to finish and score to put ourselves on top,” Bascetta said. “It’s been a problem for us, being so close and not finishing.”
