To round out the 2016 season, Boston College field hockey conceded at least four goals in each of its final three games. The Eagles were outscored 15-6 during that time span, falling to 10-10—their first non-winning record of the 21st century.
But in their opening scrimmage of the 2017 season against Massachusetts Lowell, the Eagles’ defense looked like itself again. Not only did the unit shutout the River Hawks, but it also held them without a shot for the first 60 minutes of play. The offense took advantage, scoring eight goals—five of which came in the first half.
Less than three minutes into the exhibition, freshman Jaime Natale scored the first goal of the game with a direct shot toward the lower corner of the cage. Just a couple minutes later, fellow freshman Caroline McGovern rebounded a blocked corner for the team’s second goal of the scrimmage.
With close to 15 minutes left in the first half, it started to rain. Eventually, the scoring resumed in the 28th minute, when junior Lucy Lytle tipped senior Brooke Matherson’s shot on goal, redirecting the ball. Lytle’s touch lifted the ball just over the stick of River Hawk goalie, Kelsey Federico. Shortly after, freshman Elizabeth Warner scored off of a centered pass from Matherson. Already up 4-0, BC added one more goal before the break. Matherson found the back of the net on a deflection from junior Frederique Haverhals’ corner to all but put the scrimmage out of reach.
About 10 minutes into the second half, it was Haverhals’ turn to get on the board. The Dutch midfielder drilled a corner past Federico, stretching the BC lead to six. Three minutes later, Lytle tipped another shot into the cage for her second score of the game. Matherson scored the Eagles’ eighth and final goal of the game off a rebound with a bit over eight minutes left to go in the exhibition.
The scrimmage marks the first time that BC has recorded eight goals since the Eagles downed Northeastern, 8-1, on Sept. 18, 2016.
Head coach Kelly Doton knows that her team’s constant improvement is more important than anything else at this point of the season.
“I asked the team if we’re better today than we were yesterday,” Doton told BCEagles.com. “The answer to that is yes, and tomorrow I am going to ask them the same exact thing.”
Featured Image by Amelie Trieu / Heights Editor
