By By Justin Paley

Over the past few seasons, the Pride field hockey team has began an unsettling trend of starting out tremendously well before dropping off a bit as the season progresses.

For example, the Pride cruised through its first four games, all of which were at home, marking the third year out of the last four that the team started the year with a record of at least 4-0.

Heading into the weekend, head coach Kathy DeAngelis challenged her team to maintain consistency as it traveled to Massachusetts to take on both Boston University and Boston College on consecutive days.

BU snuck past the Pride, 3-2, on Saturday and followed with a lopsided 4-0 loss to the Eagles the next day. Crystal Frates, Bronwen Kelly, and Bob Dirks all scored second half goals to pace BC in the rout.

What was most distressing was the Pride’s struggling defense, as three of the four Eagles goals came on penalty corners. There were plenty of opportunities for the Pride with nine penalty corners of its own, but the team was unable to find the net on any of them.

“It was just execution by BC,” DeAngelis said. “That was the difference in the game. It showed right there, finishing and taking advantage of the situation.” Eagles goalies Jillian Savoy and Julia Berkowitz were tested often as the two combined for eight saves.

“Their goalies played outstanding and that’s just the way it goes…But in both circles, on attack and defense we were unable to finish,” DeAngelis said.

Junior goaltender Jessica Cowperthwait finished with just one save in the loss for the Pride.

The Eagles were undoubtedly one of the toughest opponents the Pride has faced thus far, and even though the Pride fell, playing hard against non-conference opponents will help the team prepare for its Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rivals.

Last season, DeAngelis led the Pride to the postseason for the first time in 17 years. As the No. 4 seed in the CAA Tournament, the Pride upset top-seed William & Mary in overtime before falling to Delaware in the championship game.

Because of this, the bar has been raised for the Pride, who return 13 players, including six starters from last year’s squad.

“This is the most talented team I’ve ever had,” DeAngelis said. “But we can’t win on talent alone. We need team chemistry. On top of talent, we have chemistry like no other team.”