Following a defeat against the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (2-2, 0-0 AE) on Friday, the Brown women’s field hockey team (0-2, 0-0 Ivy) battled Boston University (2-2, 0-0 Patriot League) down to the wire this weekend, hoping for their first win of the season.
But after an hour of regulation play and 20 nail-biting minutes of sudden death, the Bears kept the game deadlocked at 2-2, only to narrowly lose 2-3 in penalty shootouts.
“I am very happy with our team’s performance today, as I was on Friday, yet am disappointed and dissatisfied with the result,” Head Coach Britt Broady wrote in a message to The Herald.
Despite the final score, Bruno relentlessly attacked the Terrier defense. The team attempted nine penalty corners and a total of 20 shots — creating double the number of scoring opportunities BU did — but still recorded one fewer shot on target. “We created many high quality chances yet were unable to capitalize (on them to) turn this contest into a dominating win,” Broady wrote.
Brown’s staunch defense early on counterbalanced their struggle to convert scoring opportunities. While the BU back line blocked two penalty corners and another two shots in open play by 6:46 into the match, the Bears did not allow a single shot attempt the entire first quarter.
Julia Hitti ’25 anchored the Bruno defensive unit. When the Terriers got into transition off a missed penalty corner by Brown 4:01 into the first quarter, Hitti intercepted a crucial cross that would have given BU a point-blank shot at the home goal. She also deflected a Terrier penalty corner attempt off the goal line in the beginning minutes of the third quarter.
“We played great defensively today,” Hitti wrote in a message to The Herald. “I was happy with our defensive organization, interceptions and patience — all things we worked on after Friday’s game against UMass Lowell.”
By their fourth penalty corner, with 2:35 left in the first quarter, Bruno’s offensive persistence was rewarded. Off a quick inbound pass from Lucy Adams ’26, Jule Rothenberger ’28 drove the ball low towards the direction of goal, allowing Lucie Schroeder ’28 to redirect it into the back right corner of the net, putting Brown up 1-0. Through this sequence, Rothenberger notched her first collegiate assist, and Schroeder her first collegiate goal.
BU began to turn the tide in the second quarter. With just 2:01 elapsed, they evened the score at 1-1 with a penalty corner that ricocheted the ball past the Bruno defense and into the net in a slow roll. Brown responded with four shots in the proceeding seven minutes, all to no avail. BU then retaliated with a penalty stroke that required goalkeeping heroics from Kylee Del Monte ’27, who saved the shot to keep the score tied through halftime.
Neither team could maintain momentum for long in the second half. 6:36 into the third quarter, Adams tallied her second assist of the day by dribbling around two defenders deep in the right side of the Terrier circle. She passed the ball towards the penalty spot, where Rothenberger guided it past the goalline for Brown to jump ahead 2-1.
The Bears only enjoyed this lead for 18 seconds before BU scored in the next possession via another penalty corner to tie it at 2-2.
Gridlock in the midfield defined the rest of regulation and sudden death. The Terriers closed off spacing along the wings that had permitted Bruno’s midfielders and forwards to apply offensive pressure in earlier quarters, and Brown did the same with the middle. Oftentimes, the Bears relied on Adams to move the ball forward with her exceptional dribbling and passing skills.
“(She) is one of the very best players in the country,” Broady wrote. “Our opponents attempt to limit her touches on the ball and impact on the game. Despite being the focus of defensive attention, Lucy continues to be a very dangerous threat and can change the game at any moment.”
A tied scoreline after 80 minutes initiated the penalty shootout. After four shots from each team, the shootout stood at 2-2. The fifth Terrier scored, but the fifth Bruno missed, leaving Brown with a loss of the smallest margins.
“We have a very strong team this season and are aiming to win as many games as we can and earn a spot in the Ivy League championships,” Rothenberger wrote in a message to The Herald. “We all believe in the potential of our team and are focused on building on our strengths and addressing our weaknesses as we move forward.”
The women’s field hockey team will continue to vie for their first win of the season against 4-time NCAA champions the University of Connecticut this Thursday at Goldberger Family Field.
