There is only so much that strong defense can do to secure victories for an offense that struggles to score goals.
The Boston University women’s soccer team is learning that the hard way after being shut out for the third straight game — all difficult one-goal defeats at the hands of tough opponents. The latest loss, a 1-0 double-overtime affair, came Friday evening at Harvard University, dropping BU to 2-4 on the season.
After battling the Crimson (2-1) into extra periods, a shot just 30 seconds into the second extra session gave Harvard the winning goal. All of BU’s losses this season have ended with the Terriers recording a goose egg on the scoreboard.
“We have to improve our goal scoring,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “We have to be able to finish better. I want us to work on our composure under pressure. We’re all confident that we’re going to start breaking through soon.”
As the preseason favorites to win the America East, the Terriers’ 2-4 start to the campaign falls way short of their expectations. BU made an effort to schedule tough non-conference games to keep the level of competition high all season, and it is beginning to show in the standings.
Of the Terriers’ four losses, two came against nationally ranked top-10 soccer powers in Boston College and Stanford University, one was on the road against a Big Ten team — the University of Wisconsin — and the latest came against a very tough cross-town rival on the road. While it’s fair to say that BU was not the favorite going into any of those matches, the Terriers have put forth top-notch efforts, and they could easily be sitting at 4-2 if a few more breaks went their way.
“We knew this stretch was going to be really tough,” Feldman said of the team’s first seven games, the last five of which are on the road. “I’m not satisfied with the results. I feel like we are in a good position playing-wise and personnel-wise. We are moving in a good direction. Right now it’s just the tale of results versus the tale of process.”
Friday’s loss was especially hard to take for the Terriers, who hung in with Harvard for almost two hours of intense play. Sophomores Farrell McClernon and Emily Pallotta nearly gave BU an early lead after unloading two quick shots on Harvard goalkeeper Lauren Mann. Neither shot found daylight, as Mann turned both aside.
Early on it seems the Terriers will have to depend on McClernon and Pallotta, who have been at the heart of many offensive opportunities thus far, to get onto the board and give the impressive defense some much-needed breathing room.
“Farrell and Emily are definitely our potent goal scorers,” Feldman said. “Farrell just hasn’t found her mojo yet, but she’s working on it. She might be pressing a little bit, but you want that from a goal scorer. Emily is always going to be in there. She has had at least one golden moment in every game we have played so far.”
McClernon kept up the offensive intensity into the second half, but the Terriers continued to fall just short of scoring. Junior Shannon Mullen left a pass for McClernon, who crossed the ball into the box where it was met by sophomore Mara Osher, but sent just wide on a header.
Senior Christina Reuter had another strong game in goal, but was unable to stop a shot from Harvard’s Gina Wideroff early in the second overtime period, as it snuck into the upper corner and gave Harvard the win. Reuter had eight saves on the day, including two key saves on shots that very nearly resulted in Crimson goals.
Despite the losing streak, Feldman remains confident that BU will start recording more victories in the next stretch of games before conference play begins.
“We have been playing better every game,” Feldman said. “There are a lot of positive signs. Defending is really strong as a team, our back four is really strong. They battled and gave it everything they had on Friday. We were up against it. We didn’t get the results and that was really disappointing, but I’m confident that a few days rest will serve us well and we’ll start seeing better results.”
