Two months prior to the beginning of the season, lifestyles threw the Boston University discipline hockey staff a curveball. In June, the staff realized it do not need get entry to to its domestic venue, New Balance Field, for the season because of renovations.
The Terriers’ domestic video games and practices have been shifted to Harvard University’s Athletic Complex in Allston and Boston College’s amenities in Newton, and the staff used to be compelled right into a morning observe time table. As a consequence, gamers unexpectedly needed to exchange their elegance schedules and also have to hop on a bus that leaves for observe as early as 7:15 a.m.
“It’s not an easy thing to do,” head trainer Sally Starr stated. “If I didn’t have the seniors’ buy-in for that, I don’t think we’d be where we are now.”
On the sphere, regardless that, the veteran-led Terriers (7-6, 4-0 Patriot League) have proven little put on. BU has battled to an undefeated convention report and first-place place within the PL with 4 video games to head within the common season.
“The van rides in the morning are fun. They listen to music, they sing together. They’re creating new team memories,” Starr stated. “A big part of our success this year is everybody looking in the same direction.”
Strong staff tradition on the core of turnaround
BU’s fresh luck follows a disappointing 2021 marketing campaign when the staff posted a 4-14 report and ignored the PL Tournament.
Starr attributes a lot of the development to the staff’s off-the-field bond and staff tradition, which has been their major focal point because the staff started to organize for the season in January and February.
“All eyes are pointing in the right direction, and they’re a group that love each other,” she stated. “They enjoy being together, they push each other, they challenge each other.”
One supply of inspiration has been the staff’s core values — pleasure, pastime, integrity and selflessness. Starr additionally had the staff learn Jerry Lynch’s e book “The Way of The Champion,” which makes a speciality of the significance of a staff unit and being a just right teammate.
“Locker room is as important as what you’re doing on the field,” Starr stated.
Csejka emerges as breakout megastar
Junior ahead Tess Csejka scored simply as soon as remaining season — within the Terriers’ season finale in opposition to the College of the Holy Cross. A 12 months later, Csejka is BU’s main goal-scorer with seven and an indispensable piece to the staff’s offensive manufacturing.
“We knew that she was a special athlete, a special player,” Starr stated. “Also a great teammate, a great Terrier.”
Starr referred to as the pandemic-riddled 2020 season, Csejka’s freshman 12 months, a “setback.”
“They spent more time in quarantine than on a hockey field that spring and that fall we could only have small group practices. We didn’t compete that fall,” Starr stated. “I think that her sophomore year would have been more like her junior year if we didn’t have COVID.”
Starr notches ancient accomplishment
When BU defeated Holy Cross 3-0 on Sept. 24, Starr cemented her spot in NCAA discipline hockey historical past by way of changing into the 6th Division I trainer to report 500 profession wins.
Starr, in her forty first season training the Terriers, is the longest-tenured trainer within the historical past of BU Athletics. She additionally ranks 5th all-time in wins by way of a Division I discipline hockey trainer with 503.
“It’s an accomplishment more for the program than for me. It’s all the athletes that have created all those wins,” Starr stated. “And it’s a tribute to Boston University field hockey to, over the years, be a very successful program.”
Eyes at the prize
The Terriers have clinched a berth within the PL Tournament and feature a possibility to safe home-field merit during the playoffs of their ultimate 4 video games.
Starr additionally famous that BU will now not must play on back-to-back days for the rest of the common season, which is one merit that the Terriers will revel in within the stretch of the marketing campaign.
“I think it’s a special group,” Starr stated. “We are really enjoying coaching them and I’m really looking forward to what they’re able to accomplish.”
The Terriers will subsequent face off in opposition to Lafayette College (4-10, 0-3 PL) Saturday at 12 p.m. in Easton, Pennsylvania.