Courtesy of Boston University Athletics Communications

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Boston University field hockey team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by the No. 20 Fairfield Stags in the Opening Round on Wednesday, losing 1-0 at Bedford Field.

In a defensive battle that saw 22 shots between the two teams, it was the Stags (16-5, 9-0 NEC) who got the decisive goal over the Terriers (8-11, 3-3 PL) to move onto the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Stags would convert in the 13^th minute of the game, and that 1-0 lead held strong the rest of the way.

For the Terriers, junior goalkeeper Sophie Ortyl made three saves and both junior Maggie Driscoll and senior Caroline O'Brien each recorded a defensive save.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Neither team earned a corner until the Stags received one seven minutes into the contest. After a clean insert, the Stags' tip attempt went wide.
• Fairfield would earn three penalty corners in the first, converting on the third attempt in the 13^th minute.
• On a short insert, the ball was swung over by the top of the circle to Noor Hellemans, whose shot was redirected by Rylee LaLoup into the cage to take a 1-0 lead over the Terriers.
• Entering the second quarter down 1-0, senior Caroline O'Brien had two shots blocked in the 18^th minute. Her second shot initially earned the Terriers a corner, but after a review it was determined her foot had touched the ball and Fairfield gained possession.
• In the 23^rd minute, the Stags had a dangerous pass into the center of the circle from the right side, but junior Alex Purcell was able to step in and clear the danger easily.
• Then junior Nicole Lauro came down the other end of the field and put a shot on goal after forcing a turnover, but the Fairfield goalkeeper made an impressive clearing slide and kept BU off the board in the second.
• After the half, the Terriers came out hot and earned a corner, but a Lauro drive was sent wide. That would be the Terriers' final corner of the game.
• With 13:23 remaining in the third, junior Maggie Driscoll was issued a green card, but the Terriers had no problems keeping Fairfield off the board during that time.
• The Stags' Pilar Mengotti was issued a yellow card with 5:34 remaining in the third, but they were the only team that earned a shot while at a disadvantage.
• BU stopped three straight corners to open the fourth quarter and keep the deficit at just one goal.
• Junior Maggie Driscoll made a defensive save with eight minutes remaining to help BU stay alive in the contest.
• With under five minutes to play, Ortyl was pulled from the net.
• BU had to defend two corners with 1:31 remaining and no goalkeeper in cage, but O'Brien made the defensive save on the second corner.
• The Stags were issued a yellow card with 38 seconds remaining, but controlled possession long enough to hold on for a win.

GAME NOTES

• Fairfield outshot BU 14-8 and 6-4 in shots on goal.
• The Stags dominated in penalty corners by a 9-3 margin and earned five in the fourth quarter.
• The game marked the Terriers' 15^th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history — all led by head coach Sally Starr.
• The Stags earned their first win ever against the Terriers. The series is now 10-1 in favor of BU.
• Senior Caroline O'Brien finished her senior season leading all Patriot League players in points (37) and goals (15) and was fifth in assists (7).
• Her single-season goals total is tied for sixth all-time and her single-season points total tied her for eighth all-time in BU history.