Field Hockey

No. 4 Boston University Captures Patriot League Field Hockey Title in Victory over No. 2 Lafayette

Terriers become the third No. 4 seed in League history to claim the title behind a hat trick from Caroline O’Brien

WASHINGTON – Senior forward Caroline O’Brien recorded a hat trick to lead No. 4 Boston University (8-10, 3-3 PL) to a 3-2 victory over No. 2 Lafayette (12-7, 5-1 PL) to claim the 2025 Patriot League field hockey title.
 
O’Brien claimed Patriot League Championship MVP honors after becoming the first field hockey player in League history to record a hat trick in the title game. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Megan Wetzel (Sr., M/D), Delfi Coulo (Fr., F/M) and Martu Coulo (Sr., M) after helping head coach Sally Starr and the Terriers became the third No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Field Hockey Championship history to earn the crown, joining Colgate (1996) and Fairfield (2001).
 
Senior defender Makenzie Switzer earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team honors. Katie Gibb (Jr., D) and Lena Thedrian (Jr., D) also claimed All-Tournament accolades.
 
American’s Jordan Reicher (Jr., F) and Emilia Winkler (Jr., M) and Bucknell’s Kira Leclercq (Sr., D) and Sally Hunter (So., D/M) rounded out the 11-member All-Patriot League Tournament Team.
 
Boston University will learn its postseason fate on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 10 p.m. when the bracket is announced during the 2025 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Selection Show, available on NCAA.com.
 
American’s Jordan Reicher (Jr., F) and Emilia Winkler (Jr., M) and Bucknell’s Kira Leclercq (Sr., D) and Sally Hunter (So., D/M) rounded out the 11-member All-Patriot League Tournament Team.
 
For more information on the 2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship presented by Credit Union 1, visit Championship Central.
 
2025 Patriot League Field Hockey All-Tournament Team
Caroline O’Brien, Boston University, Sr., F - Most Valuable Player 
Delfi Coulo, Boston University, Fr., F/M
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Sr., M
Megan Wetzel, Boston University, Sr., M/D
Katie Gibb, Lafayette, Jr., D
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, Sr., D
Lena Thedrian, Lafayette, Jr., D
Jordan Reicher, American, Jr., F
Emilia Winkler, American, Jr., M
Sally Hunter, Bucknell So., D/M
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Sr., D
 
2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Semifinal Round presented by Credit Union 1 – Thursday, Nov. 6
Game Time Results
 No. 4 Boston University at No. 1 American 11 a.m. Boston University, 1-0
 No. 3 Bucknell vs. No. 2 Lafayette 2 p.m. Lafayette, 2-1
 
2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship Match presented by Credit Union 1 – Saturday, Nov. 8
Game Time Results
No. 4 Boston University vs. No. 2 Lafayette 1 p.m. Boston University, 3-2
 
NO. 4 BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (7-10, 3-3 PL) 3, AT NO. 2 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (12-6, 5-1 PL) 2
William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex/Washington, D.C.                                              1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON – Senior forward Caroline O’Brien’s hat trick led No. 4 Boston University to a 3-2 victory over No. 2 Lafayette for its fifth Patriot League crown and first since 2018.
*O’Brien scored the game-winning goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, making her the first player in League history to score three goals in a championship game, and the seventh to post a hat trick in the League tournament game.
*Senior midfielder Megan Wetzel and freshman forward Molly Driscoll each recorded assists.
*Terriers’ junior goalkeeper Sophie Ortyl recorded two saves to pick up the win for BU.
*Junior forward Maddie Evans and midfielder Stella Malinowski tallied second-half goals for the Leopards to help pull even twice.
*Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Raffi Fragomeni (Sr., GK) recorded four saves and stopped a penalty stroke.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
*BU struck first, as O’Brien scored on a penalty corner with assists from Wetzel and Driscoll early in the second quarter, and took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
*BU’s Ortyl made two saves in the first half, as the Terriers stopped five Leopards penalty corners.
*Evans tipped in the equalizer with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter, on a feed from freshman defender Rosalie van Gool to bring the Leopards even at 1-1.
*Fragomeni kept the game tied at one, stopping a penalty stroke with 1:39 remaining in the third frame.
*O’Brien put BU in front with 13:25 remaining in the game, hitting a backhanded shot into the back of the cage for a short-handed goal.
*After pulling the goalkeeper, Malinowski scored on an assist from sophomore midfielder Kiley Gallagher to make the score 2-2. 
*O’Brien hit another backhanded shot past the goalkeeper to tally the game-winning goal with 2:17 left in regulation.
RECAPS: BOSTON UNIVERSITY | LAFAYETTE
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.