Sunday’s game against Brown University was just a scrimmage for the Boston University women’s soccer team, but that didn’t prevent them from coming prepared to play.
With the game scoreless in the middle of the first half, junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge took a pass from freshman Lina Cords inside the 18-yard line. Schumacher-Hodge was left untouched near the Brown net and buried a shot in the bottom right corner.
Schumacher-Hodge’s goal would be the only tally of the Terriers’ 1-0 win on Nickerson Field.
Though the Terriers scored only one goal, the box score didn’t indicate the controlled and confident possessions displayed by the team.
BU coach Nancy Feldman said she was impressed with the Terriers’ ability to get shots on goal.
“I thought our attack was quite good,” Feldman said. “We created a lot of real scoring opportunities with crashes and shots. We just needed to put the ball in the back of the net. We made good shots and good crosses. It was in the final moment when we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be.”
The Terrier defense sparkled by cutting down Brown’s scoring opportunities, switching the field early and often to set up its offense. BU’s only blemish was allowing a one-on-one shot that was handled by Terrier keeper Janie Reilly.
“We had a great game defensively for most of the match. The backline was very solid, but so were the forwards and the midfielders with their responsibilities,” Feldman said. “It was a great team effort defensively. Other than the lone breakaway, Janie didn’t have to do much, which is a credit to our team defensively.”
Reilly was able to move the ball up to the midline with ease, creating runs for the offense. Feldman said she felt Reilly played well despite a minimal workload.
“Janie’s positioning was excellent, so a lot of things that might have turned into opportunities for the other teams don’t because she is positionally sound,” Feldman said. “She provided a back outlet for the defense and handled the ball a lot with her feet.”
With the offense and defense in sync, the only problem was ball movement and crowding between Terriers from the midline to 18-yard line. Feldman said the lack of movement was a product of the Terriers’ dominance.
“When you’re dominating the game, the game isn’t going to be stretched out,” Feldman said. “We had the ball at their half more often then they had it at our half. Naturally they’re not extending their team, which would result in us crowding around their players.”
After the conclusion of two halves, both the coaches and the referees agreed to add a third half to be played after a five-minute break.
“The spring games are training games. These aren’t meant for the record books,” Feldman said. “My idea is not to make any substitution but have different players start and get the experience of starting instead of coming off the bench while the game is flowing already.
“I gave our reserve players the opportunity to be in a game like they would experience as a starter. It’s important that I get to evaluate them same way I evaluate the players that get to start a little bit more.”
