No. 17 Terriers Top No. 16 Northwestern, 2-1, in Season Opener

DURHAM, N.H. - The No. 17 Boston University field hockey team had a successful start to its 2016 season on Friday, earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over No. 16 Northwestern in the opening round of the Wildcat Classic at Memorial Field on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. Junior Allie Renzi scored her first collegiate goal and added an assist while senior Cammy Jensen turned in a nine-save performance in goal.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: #17 Boston University 2, #16 Northwestern 1
Records: BU (1-0), Northwestern (0-1)
Location: Memorial Field – Durham, N.H.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After taking a 1-0 lead into the second half, BU got what would be a huge insurance goal in the 51st minute on a tally by senior Amanda Cassera.
• Northwestern got on the board with 14:24 to play but the Terriers held on late to secure the season-opening win.
• BU overcame a slow start and got on the board in the 14th minute when junior Allie Renzi placed a low shot just inside the left post from the top of the circle on an assist from classmate Kali Shumock. The goal was the first of her collegiate career.
• Renzi, who moved up to the midfield after playing as a back last season, set up Cassera's goal as the senior took the pass and spun around the middle of the circle before firing an elevated shot past Northwestern netminder Lindsay von der Luft, who finished with two saves on the day. 
• Dominique Masters ended BU's shutout bid when she dribbled in from the right side and snuck a high shot past Jensen.

GAME NOTES

• Jensen made five of her saves in the opening half and three of her four stops after halftime came on one Wildcat corner.
• The Terriers were outshot by the Wildcats, 14-6, and Northwestern held a 5-2 edge in corners. 
• Cassara's goal was the 30th of her career, moving her into a tie for seventh all-time at BU with Jacinda MacLeod '13.
• All three of the Terriers' starting backs (Ally Hammel, Jordyn Beesmer, Maika Akroyd) made their BU debut at the position. Hammel scored seven goals as a striker last year during her rookie season.
• Beesmer and freshman Kiley Gallagher made their first collegiate starts. 
• This was the 12th meeting between the two schools and resulted in the Terriers' first win over Northwestern since a 3-0 home win in 2008, ending a three-game skid.

NEXT UP: TITLE GAME ON SUNDAY

• BU will face the winner of Friday's New Hampshire-Massachusetts game in Sunday's championship game of the Wildcat Classic.
• The title match will start at 2 p.m.
• The Terriers opened last season hosting the Tri-Conference Cup with UNH and UMass. BU defeated UNH, 4-3, before dropping a 2-1 contest to the Minutewomen.

Fernandez, Meadows Claim NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Honors

Mandy Fernandez and Kendra Meadows at Senior Day back in April.

Duo finished earned a GPA above 3.50 for the entire 2014-15 academic year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Recent Boston University softball graduates Mandy Fernandez and Kendra Meadows have earned All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday afternoon.

Both women were recognized for post a grade point average above 3.50 for the entire 2014-15 academic year. Fernandez was named a Scholar-Athlete a second time, while Meadows earned her first award.

Last season, Fernandez made 38 starts and contributed 15 RBIs with five doubles at the plate while also making 47 putouts without a single error. Meadows recorded 37 starts and tallied 10 RBIs with eight stolen bases and four sacrifice hits.

The duo were previously named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll over the summer with eight teammates who finished with a GPA above 3.20 or better.

Laurito, Coll Collect PL Weekly Honors

Laurito scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season.

Co-captains named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Senior co-captains Sofi Laurito and Rachel Coll have been named the Corvais Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, after helping the Boston University field hockey team put together a two-win weekend.

Laurito and Coll turned in five-point weekend, each tallying two goals and an assist to lead BU to victories over American and Northeastern. BU topped the Eagles, 5-3, in a back-and-forth affair on Saturday to remain undefeated in Patriot League play. On Saturday, Coll's overtime goal propelled the Terriers to a 3-2 victory over their crosstown rivals.

In Saturday's key PL matchup, Laurito scored the game-winner after a penalty corner in the 55th minute to break a 3-3 tie. She also assisted on a goal that tied the score at 2-2 late in the first half.
Laurito tallied an unassisted goal in the 44th minute in the road win over the Huskies on Sunday. she scored six goals this season and this is her second career Corvias Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week award.

Coll opened the scoring in the second minute against the Eagles and helped BU seal the win with an assist on the final goal of the contest in the 68th minute. Her overtime winner in the 78th minute gave BU its fifth victory in the last six games.

The New Zealand native anchored a BU defense that allowed only 12 shots and five corners over the weekend. This is Coll's second career Corvias Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week award.

Cejnarova Named Patriot League Golfer of the Month

Junior Adela Cejnarova is a four-time Patriot League Golfer of the Month.

Junior averaged a 76 over five rounds, finished second at Dartmouth

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Junior Adela Cejnarova of the Boston University golf team was named Patriot League Golfer of the Month, as announced by the conference on Thursday.

Cejnarova averaged a 76 over five rounds in September, highlighted by a one-under 71 in the final round of the Dartmouth Invitational this past weekend. She finished second in that tournament after she opened the season at the Diane Thomason Invitational, carding a pair of under-80 rounds at the 54-hole event.

This is the fourth time in her career that Cejnarova has been selected as the Patriot League Golfer of the Month. She was twice honored last season (April, October) and also recognized for her play in March 2014.

BU will be in action this weekend at the 54-hole Forest Oaks Fall Classic hosted by UNC Greensboro. Play is scheduled to begin Friday.