Following the resignation of accomplished head coach Ainslee Lamb, who spent 10 years at the helm of the Boston College field hockey program, a regression seemed like a reasonable expectation. Yet in her debut as head coach, Kelly Doton and the Eagles returned to midseason form, dominating Providence College and Quinnipiac for two wins in the opening weekend of the 2015 season.
In their first game, the Eagles overwhelmed Providence with a 3-0 final score, also marking Doton’s first career win after three years as BC’s associate head coach. The entire team offered a stellar performance from the outset, when Emily McCoy sent a pass to her twin sister, Eryn, to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead only 1:44 into the game.
Nearly 20 minutes in, junior Leah Frome succeeded in taking advantage of a rebounded shot off the corner of the goal to make it 2-0. The Eagles capitalized on Providence’s unstable defense throughout the first period, rendering the Friars unable to take a shot on goal until the second half. Five minutes into the second half, freshman Ymke Rose Gote scored her first career goal, prompting the Providence team to replace goalkeeper Deidra Clymer a few minutes after. Goalkeeper Leah Settipane earned the win for BC after an easy day in the net—Providence managed only six shots to BC’s 26.
The Eagles put up a similar effort on Sunday, winning 4-0 against Quinnipiac. AshLeigh Sebia, Kelcie Hromisin, Lucy Lytle, and Elizabeth Dennehy all scored, showing a strong offense from a majority of the forwards and midfielders. Settipane again displayed skill in the shooting circle, deftly saving five shots from the Bobcats. BC’s offense slowed down compared to the previous game, not scoring its first goal until the 20th minute. Lytle followed soon after with a second goal in the 25th minute. In the second half, Hromisin and Sebia scored goals, both with the help of Emily McCoy.
The field hockey team, which went 13-7 last season and 3-3 in ACC play, looked sharp and ready to take on Maryland in its next game Friday. The return of last season’s stars, such as the McCoy sisters, as well as the introduction of seven freshmen, bodes well for the team. The Eagles are ranked No. 13 in the nation, but their strong performance thus far may foretell a climb in the rankings down the road.
Featured Image by Emily Fahey / Heights Senior Staff
