Field Hockey Looks to Down No. 12 Boston College

Coming off their biggest win of the season at Princeton, Harvard field hockey will now face one of their toughest opponents in No. 12 Boston College.

The Thursday night faceoff under the lights at Berylson Field comes against a strong cross-town foe that has just capped its best finish in program history in the ACC, traditionally one of the nation’s strongest field hockey conferences.

The game inevitably forces the hand of the Eagles, providing an important backdrop before crucial games. Next week Boston College plays No. 1 UConn for its Senior Night and then Virginia in the ACC Championship quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the Crimson wraps up its regular season campaign against two Ancient Eight opponents in Dartmouth and Columbia. If Harvard can win these two conference matchups, the team will win their first Ivy League title since 2003 and secure a place in the NCAA championship tournament.

“BC is always a great team,” captain Sarah Finnemore said. “[Play] gets competitive, and I think it will be the same this year. We’re taking it one game at a time and we also want to do well outside of the Ivy League.”

Both teams come into the contest with a great deal of momentum. The Eagles have won five of their last six games, including two victories against nationally ranked opponents. The Crimson carries its own share of confidence in the form of an eight-game winning streak, the longest in program history. Both teams will be eager to continue their success, but can’t let the excitement affect their play.

“I think that is something that we have been doing pretty well—staying consistent in how we approach teams,” coach Tjerk van Herwaarden said. “Of course, we have looked at video for Boston College, discussing with the coaching staff what the best way would be to play them. I think that they are very similar in a couple areas as Princeton, which is something we were faced with last weekend. So, I think from that perspective, we will come out with the same, or similar, game plan.”

Both teams carry high-powered offenses lad by prolific goal-scorers. Eagles sophomore forward Lucy Lytle leads her team with 11 goals. Harvard’s historic winning streak has been charged by program goal-leader senior forward Marissa Balleza, who has netted 13 goals this season. Both the Eagles and the Crimson are averaging over two goals per game.

“BC will be a fantastic opponent for us to set the pace and get us into the right pace of the game for the last two Ivy League games,” van Herwaarden said.

With powerful offenses on both sides, the game may come down to how well the defenses can handle the attacks. The Eagles have given up 1.81 goals per game, while the Harvard’s Libby Manela has given up nearly a goal less during her eight starts. But with both teams currently on a winning bug, earlier season results may not mean nearly as much.

Thursday’s contest holds extra importance, as it is the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game. Pink apparel will be worn by players and sold to spectators, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

“Being a sports team and getting the media attention that we do…I think that it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to help and do something for the community,” van Herwaarden said. “It’s great awareness and recognition for the real problems out there in life.”

The games are also getting personal for the players and captains, who have invested a tremendous amount over the course of the season. The hope is that physical training and three hour practices will translate into further success.

“I’ve played field hockey since second grade, so I think it’s exciting to be doing so well in my senior season,” Finnemore said.

While Thursday’s game doesn’t directly affect the Crimson’s postseason aspirations, a win entering one of the most important weeks of the year certainly wouldn’t hurt.