Women’s hockey loses two close games in final home series this weekend

After a loss to the University of Massachusetts 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) to the bitter end this weekend, hoping for its first win of the season.

But after an hour of regulation play and 20 minutes of heart-stopping sudden death, the Bears kept the game tied 2-2, only to narrowly lose 2-3 on penalties.

“I am very pleased with our team’s performance today, as I was Friday, but I am disappointed and unhappy with the result,” head coach Britt Broady wrote in a message to the Herald.

Despite the final score, Bruno relentlessly attacked the Terriers’ defense. The team attempted nine penalty corners and a total of 20 shots – creating twice as many scoring chances as BU – but still had one fewer shot on target. “We created a lot of high-quality chances but were unable to capitalize on them to turn this game into a resounding victory,” Broady wrote.

The Browns’ stout defense quickly offset their difficulty converting scoring opportunities. While the Bears’ back line blocked two penalty corners and two more open-field shots at the 6:46 mark, the Bears didn’t allow a single shot attempt in the entire first quarter.

Julia Hitti ’25 anchored Bruno’s defensive unit. When the Terriers went into transition after a missed penalty corner kick by Brown 4:01 into the first quarter, Hitti intercepted a crucial cross that would have given BU a point-blank shot toward the home goal. She also deflected a Terriers penalty corner attempt at the goal line in the opening minutes of the third quarter.

“We played well defensively today,” Hitti wrote in a message to the Herald. “I was happy with our defensive organization, our interceptions and our patience — all things we worked on after Friday’s game against UMass Lowell.”

On their fourth penalty corner, with 2:35 left in the first quarter, Bruno’s offensive persistence was rewarded. On a quick pass from Lucy Adams ’26, Jule Rothenberger ’28 pushed the ball low toward the goal, allowing Lucie Schroeder ’28 to redirect it into the back right corner of the net, giving Brown a 1-0 lead. With that sequence, Rothenberger earned her first collegiate assist and Schroeder her first collegiate goal.

BU began to turn the tide in the second quarter. With just 2 minutes and 1 seconds left, they tied the score at 1-1 thanks to a penalty corner that bounced the ball past Bruno’s defense and into the net in a slow roll. Brown responded with four shots over the next seven minutes, all unsuccessful. BU then responded with a penalty stroke that required the heroics of goalie Kylee Del Monte ’27, who stopped the shot to keep the score tied until halftime.

Neither team could maintain their momentum for long in the second half. At 6:36 into the third quarter, Adams recorded her second assist of the day as she dribbled past two defenders in the right corner of the Terriers’ circle. She passed the ball to the penalty spot, where Rothenberger guided it across the goal line to Brown, who took the lead 2-1.

The Bears only enjoyed that lead for 18 seconds before BU scored on the next possession via another penalty corner to tie the game at 2-2.

The remainder of regulation and the sudden death were marked by a midfield logjam. The Terriers reduced the space along the wings that had allowed Bruno’s midfielders and forwards to exert offensive pressure in the early quarters, and Brown did the same with the middle. Often, the Bears relied on Adams to move the ball forward with his exceptional dribbling and passing skills.

“She is one of the best players in the country,” Broady wrote. “Our opponents try to limit her contact with the ball and her impact on the game. Although she is the center of defensive attention, Lucy continues to be a very dangerous threat and can change the course of the game at any time.”

The score was tied after 80 minutes of play and penalty kicks began. After four shots from each team, the score was 2-2. The fifth Terrier scored, but the fifth Bruno missed, leaving Brown with a loss by the narrowest of margins.

“We have a very strong team this season and our goal is to win as many games as possible and secure a spot in the Ivy League championship,” Rothenberger wrote in a message to the Herald. “We all believe in the potential of our team and are working to build on our strengths and address our weaknesses as we move forward.”

The women’s field hockey team will continue to battle for its first win of the season against four-time NCAA champion University of Connecticut this Thursday at Goldberger Family Field.