Mari Creatini collected a loose ball in front of the Boston University net and knocked in the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute to lift the Huskies to a 2-1 victory over the Terriers and to the America East regular season title Saturday afternoon at MIT's Jack Barry Turf. The Huskies will host the semifinals and final of the America East Championship at Sweeney Field next weekend.
"It was just a great win," said NU coach Cheryl Murtagh. "After losing to Maine a couple of weeks ago, we really needed to step up our game and play more consistently to get back into title contention. We responded really well and it's a credit to our players."
Northeastern, with a non-conference game left Tuesday at Connecticut to complete the regular season, ended America East play with a 4-1 record and defended it crown by virtue of head-to-head competition with New Hampshire, which also finished 4-1 after defeating Maine, 2-1. NU is now 15-3, while BU falls to 11-9 and 2-3 in the conference.
The Husky defense held off a furious BU rally late in the game with the Terriers getting off three shots and earning two corners in the final five minutes of regulation. NU's Emily Roy came up with her only two saves of the game during that stretch to hold on for the win.
"Our focus was to try to get more offensive production and capitalizing on our opportunities," Murtagh said. "We've been creating scoring chances all season, but haven't finished well. We came through with some good goals today. Our defense was a little shaky at times with some passes, and that's where we need to work now to get better."
Senior Maureen Connelly put the Huskies ahead at the 9:32 mark with an unassisted goal, but BU's Kara Rossi tallied the equalizer 10 minutes later to set up Creatini's second-half heroics.
The play started with Sara Webber dribbling into the circle on the right side, evading a BU defender, then drawing the goalie out of position, before losing control of the ball. Creatini alertly gathered the ball and whacked it across the goal crease and into the cage.
The Huskies dominated possession throughout the game, outshooting the Terriers 10-6 and holding a 7-5 penalty corner advantage.
Northeastern will now host the America East tournament for the second straight year. The Huskies will meet No. 4 Vermont (2-3, 6-12) at 1 p.m. with No. 2 New Hampshire (4-1, 12-7) and No. 3 Maine (3-2, 14-3) to follow on Friday. The winners will meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. to decide the championship and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship.
Scoring:
First Half:
NU, Maureen Connelly (unassisted) 25:28
BU, Kara Rossi (unassisted) 16:04
Second Half:
NU, Mari Creatini (unassisted) 17:44
Shots
Northeastern, 10
Boston University, 6
Penalty Corners
Northeastern, 7
Boston University, 5
Saves
Northeastern, Emily Roy 2
Boston University, Susan Harrington 3
