Fields delivers complete game

By Bob Monahan, Globe Correspondent, 2/4/2003

''Technical, tactical, and mental,'' said Boston University goalie coach Mike Geragosian last night while talking about his junior keeper Sean Fields, who paced the Terriers to a 2-1 win over Harvard in the Beanpot semifinals.

Fields, making his 15th straight start, was like an octopus, making 28 saves for his third Beanpot victory. He was in net for both games last season when the Terriers won Boston's hockey Holy Grail.

''Sean has all the talent to be a great goalie,'' said Geragosian, a former UMass-Lowell goaltender. ''His first two years he had a lot to learn and he was willing to learn. Many times I raised my voice when he made an error. Many times I corrected him. He took all those corrections as a learning process and he got better.

''Today he knows he has to stay focused, and he does that well. He made some saves against Harvard that would not have been made if he were not focused.

''I went to him often his first two years here. Now I don't go to him much at all. When he feels something is not right, he'll come to me. We respect each other.''

Geragosian and Fields make a good team. Their goal is to win games and improve. They are doing that.

''Sean is so much more confident today,'' said Geragosian. ''He knows what's expected of him and he delivers. I'm having a ball coaching him, and just think -- he's back next year, too.''

Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni said, ''We played our best Beanpot game in three years, and you have to credit their goalie. We played well and didn't finish off, but Fields was sharp.''

Fields was sharpest midway through the third period when Harvard had a two-on-one break. Fields made the right move at the right time, making the stop with his outstretched leg to preserve a 1-1 tie.

''I like playing in the FleetCenter and I've had some success here,'' said the native of Edmonton, Alberta. ''But what's on my mind is that we lost to Maine here in the Hockey East finals a year ago. I'm also aware that we play at UMass next Friday and they are just behind us in the standings. We have to play well up there. So I don't feel I can think about the Beanpot finals until after next Friday night. ''Against Harvard I got fine support and I was never really nervous. Once we got the lead, I felt pretty good.

''We all were prepared. Coach [Jack] Parker is always up for the Beanpot and he gets us up. That's a good thing.''

So are other things such as technical, tactical, and mental.

This story ran on page F6 of the Boston Globe on 2/4/2003.
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