Both proving their resilience, the BU women’s soccer and field hockey teams earned a berth in the Patriot League semifinals. The football team has come away with several come-from-behind victories this year, thanks to a gritty attitude that keeps the team competitive in every game. Meanwhile, the field hockey team managed to advance to the semi-finals despite losing three key players to injury early in the season.
Both teams will play their respective semi-finals on Thursday, November 2.
Women’s football
After a 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Lehigh in the Patriot League quarterfinals on Oct. 29, the fourth-seeded women’s soccer team prepares for a semifinal showdown with No. 2 Bucknell . The game will take place at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on Thursday, November 2 at 7 p.m.
The quarterfinal victory, a back-and-forth thriller with three lead changes, showcased the never-say-die attitude that has empowered the Terriers all season long. BU equalized in the 77th minute thanks to a penalty Giulianna Giannino (Sargent’26), then won on penalties after Celia Braun (CAS’25) stopped four Lehigh attempts.
“We showed all year that we can really be resilient,” says head coach Casey Brown (COM’10). “We always come back. We have a punch.
The Terriers notched a 3-2 comeback win over Albany on August 27 and come-from-behind draws, with Northeastern on September 3 and Bucknell on October 14. BU played to a mark of 7-6-6, with a 4-3-2 record in the Patriot League.
Brown likes to call his team “mentality monsters” because the group is united and focused on the collective goal and the team’s mentality on the field. “The cohesiveness of this group is so strong,” she says. “When you feel like you always have people behind you and together, there’s real power in that and power in the collective.”
“The cohesion of this group is so strong. When you feel like you always have people behind you and together, there is real power in that and power in the collective.
Giannino has been stuffing the stat sheet all season, scoring team highs in goals (7) and assists (4). But the offensive production also came up and down the lineup, with 6 different BU players having at least three goals and 10 finding the net at least once. “We have confidence in our offense,” Brown said. “Anyone can create the moment and make it happen. They were excellent. »
For the team’s returnees, the semifinal presents an opportunity for revenge, as Bucknell eliminated the Terriers in last year’s Patriot League semifinal on penalties. To win, the team will have to play to their full potential, from kickoff to the final buzzer.
“The best thing about the Patriot League is that it’s always neck and neck. Every team will be a game, and you will get the best game from that team every time you play them,” says the Terrier captain. Abigail McNulty (Sargent’24). “A match lasts 90 minutes and you have to play the full 90 minutes otherwise things won’t go the way you want.”
Field hockey
The field hockey team went 8-9 in the regular season with a tough schedule that included three nationally ranked opponents. Now, with a spot in the Patriot League championship game on the line, the Terriers prepare to face Lafayette on Thursday in Washington, DC.
The Terriers have been at a disadvantage all season, after Tess Csejka (CAS’24), Ella Rottinghaus (CAS’25), and Maddie Hudson (CAS’26) suffered season-ending injuries. But the veteran-laden team has fought its way through that adversity and now finds itself with a chance to win its first Patriot League title since 2018.
“It’s been a tough season in many ways, with some really good wins and some bad losses,” said head coach Sally Starr. “Whatever the result, this is a team that continued to work very hard and stayed together. We have an exceptional team culture.
To win the elusive conference title, Starr said, the team must seize the opportunity to compete in a high-pressure environment. “You really have to focus on the opportunity to compete and the thrill of competing,” she says. “It really is that simple. We have a saying: “When we compete, we are hard to beat.” »
Caroline O’Brien (CAS’26) and Thalia Steenssens (CAS’24) are tied for the team lead with 18 points, and goaltender Kate Thomason started all 17 games in net.
The program considers itself a group of grinders, says Rachel Borzymowski (CAS’24). “We’re going to do what it takes to get there.” This team showed a lot of resilience throughout the season, but also in the small moments of a match. Just resilience and never giving up, that’s a huge part of this team’s character.
The results reflect this mentality. Six of the team’s eight victories came by one goal, and four of them came in overtime. And even if the Terriers, third seed, will be underdogs against number 2 Lafayette, Borzymowski is confident in BU’s ability to spring a surprise.
“We have all the tools we could possibly need,” she says. “Now all we need to do is make sure we bring out that brave, resilient side of ourselves.” »
The BU field hockey team will face Lafayette on Thursday, November 2 at 2 p.m. in the Patriot League semifinals in Washington, DC, which will be broadcast on ESPN+. The league championship will take place on Saturday, November 4 at 1 p.m., also in Washington, DC, and will also be broadcast on ESPN+. The women’s soccer team faces Bucknell in a Patriot League semifinal in Lewisburg, Pa., on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., which will air on ESPN+. The league championship will take place on Sunday, November 5 at noon, location to be determined. This game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
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