BU knocks off No. 8 Virginia behind Kastuk

One week removed from taking a "step backwards" in coach Sally Starr's eyes, the Boston University field hockey team took a giant leap forward this weekend by knocking off the No. 8 University of Virginia, 3-2, yesterday afternoon after falling to Old Dominion University, 2-1, on Saturday.

Heading into yesterday with their worst September start since an 0-3 beginning in 2001, the Terriers (4-6) were desperate for a win.

Opposing Virginia (9-2) in Newton, Mass., the Terriers opened the first half eager to control the pace of the game and play alongside a Cavalier team that had averaged more than three goals per game this season.

Despite jumping ahead midway through the first half on junior Nikki Lloyd's third goal of the year, the Terriers yielded a tally to Virginia's Traci Ragukas in the 33rd minute to tie the game at two going into the half.

"We had an excellent first half," Starr said. "And in the second half we just hung on. [Goalkeeper] Kim [Kastuk] was outstanding in the goal and we played persistently all the way through."

The Terriers overcame a Cavalier record 23 shots on Kastuk to hold off Virginia through the second half and two overtime frames.

Resorting to a shootout -- the first of the year for both teams -- BU outmatched the Cavaliers in penalty strokes, as junior Gabby Hajjar and freshman Kiley Allosso recorded two goals apiece.

"UVA is eighth in the country," Starr said. "We played really well in the first half and in the overtime we had chances. They had some chances, but we held them off. Gabby made both of her strokes and Kiley did, too, in the fifth spot."

Allosso was responsible for the final shots in both rounds of the shootout, burying both to give the Terriers their first victory in more than a week.

"She had to score to send it into the second round and then had to score to give us the win," Starr said of Allosso. "That's a lot to have on her shoulders, but she buried them both."

Weathering the remnants of Hurricane Kyle as it moved toward Nova Scotia, the Terriers took to a rain-soaked Jack Barry Field Saturday looking to reverse their September fortunes.

On paper, Old Dominion (2-6) looked to be the perfect chance for BU to push its way back toward .500, but the Lady Monarchs' 1-6 record coming into the game did not do its offense justice.

"They are a legitimate Top-10 team," Starr said of Old Dominion. "All of their losses have been to ranked teams. They are not a 2-6 team."

From the opening whistle, Old Dominion exploited BU's weaknesses. But, as hard as the Lady Monarchs worked to beat BU, the Terriers worked just as hard to beat themselves.

Missing passing opportunities and failing to capitalize on chances - a problem that has plagued BU over the last two weeks - was all but absent from Saturday's contest.

"Our problem as a team was not finishing," Starr said. "We had some great looks but we just couldn't take advantage of our chances. We controlled the ball and kept possession and kept it in a good attacking position, but we couldn't finish."

Outshooting Old Dominion 10-5 on the afternoon, the Terriers drew even on a penalty stroke off the stick of sophomore Maryette Stuart.

Less than two and a half minutes later, Old Dominion's Katelyn Smither put her second shot of the afternoon past Kastuk to give the Lady Monarchs a 2-1 lead -- an advantage they wouldn't relinquish.

With four days to relish the upset and bury the past, the Terriers will look to continue their progress in the midfield in preparation for next weekend's matchup against the University of New Hampshire.

"We all know we underperformed last weekend, and within one week, to come back out and play Old Dominion and play the eighth-ranked team in the country the way they did speaks volumes about the girls' work ethic and belief in themselves," Starr said. "The team deserved that win."