After winning its last two games, the Boston University women’s soccer team played to its first tie of the year last night in a road contest against Dartmouth College, 1-1.
The Terriers (6-5-1) took a rare early lead in the first half, scoring their goal in the 37th minute. Freshman Jessica Luscinski booted a long cross that sophomore Corie Halasz put into the left side of the net for her second goal in as many games.
Early leads have been hard to come by for the Terriers, who have scored just three of their nine goals in the first half.
BU coach Nancy Feldman commended Halasz’s ability threaten from an array of positions.
‘I think a lot of what we’re seeing is her confidence growing and understanding that her position is growing,’ Feldman said. ‘She certainly has some pretty tremendous attacking skills and is great as an outside back coming forward, but she also is very useful to us as an outside midfielder.”
However, Halasz’s goal would not create enough of a cushion for the defense to protect. The Terriers held the Big Green (4-3-1) scoreless until the 82nd minute, when junior Kelsey Quick took a free kick from 45 yards out that deflected off BU goalkeeper Janie Reilly to Dartmouth’s Peyton Tata, who struck the rebound past Reilly.
BU allowed eight shots in the second half, and it was apparent the defense was struggling to keep the ball out of its own zone.
Feldman said the difference in approach between the teams played itself out in the second half, and although the game didn’t result in a victory, there were plenty of encouraging signs to take from the tie.
‘It was really a battle of two types of styles,’ Feldman said. ‘They’re more direct than we are and put more balls in the air. They were serving balls into our back line and were getting a little bit more possession in our half. They had the edge on us in the second half.
‘It was a good tie. We performed physically and mentally and showed some of our growth. I think this game was a better indication of how far we’ve come.’
BU and Dartmouth traded scoring chances during the overtime sessions, holding possession equally throughout the two extra periods. BU tallied three shots and Dartmouth had four at the end of the two overtimes.
While BU was playing in its first overtime bout of the year, Dartmouth felt right at home in the extra periods. All four of Dartmouth’s wins have come in overtime this year.
Feldman spoke of BU’s first overtime experience as a necessary one to have before conference play continues.
‘It’s a good test for us, and I thought we came through it pretty well,’ Feldman said. ‘Both teams bent a little bit, but neither team broke. I would not have had a problem playing until a team won. I was confident we were going to win it.’