 |
|
|
Spuehler Leads Terriers Past UNH in America East Semifinal, 5-2
Nov. 2, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Aided by two goals and an assist from senior Pam Spuehler, the No. 13 Boston University field hockey team advanced to the America East title game with a 5-2 victory over New Hampshire on Friday afternoon at Jack Barry Field. The top-seeded Terriers will face second-seeded Albany, a 2-1 overtime winner over Vermont, on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for the league crown. BU improves to 16-5 on the year, while UNH wraps up the season with a 9-12 record. The Terriers will be in search of their third straight trip to the NCAA tournament - a feat that has never been accomplished in the program's history. BU scored three first-half goals against the Wildcats and tacked on two more after intermission to take a commanding 5-0 lead. UNH's Sam Geary scored twice in the final 12 minutes of regulation to create the 5-2 final. Senior Hadley Adams opened the scoring early, redirecting an offering from classmate Hayley Hamada in the third minute of play. The tally was Adams' third game winner of the year, tying her for the team lead in that statistic. Spuehler helped BU control possession in the UNH zone for the majority of the opening half and the senior standout scored two goals less than six minutes apart to give the Terriers a three-goal cushion. Her first tally, which came at the 12:51 mark, was an impressive individual effort, as she collected the ball inside the 25 and dribbled through defenders before penetrating the circle from the right side and slotting a shot to the far corner of the cage past the reach of UNH netminder Margaux Shute. Under six minutes later on one the Terriers' four first-half corners, Spuehler picked up a rebound off an shot by junior Wiles and stuffed it home to seal her fourth multi-goal game of the season.
In the second half, Spuehler had a hand in a third consecutive goal, inserting on a corner that was finished off by Wiles at 41:47. Hamada also assisted on the tally. BU's fifth goal came off the stick of Hayly Ross, as the junior redirected a pass from sophomore Suus Dekker with 14:22 left in regulation. Shute was impressive in a losing effort in goal for UNH, making 13 saves. Freshman Kim Kastuk recorded one save for the Terriers. BU outshot UNH, 26-5, including a 17-2 advantage in the opening half. The Terriers earned nine penalty corners to the Wildcats' six.
|
