Tiffany Baalman and Jessica Clinton combined to shut out the State University of New York on Sunday as the Boston University women’s soccer team closed its season with a 2-0 victory at Nickerson Field.
The win upped the Terriers’ record to 7-10-2 (4-3-1 America East) while the Great Danes fell to 4-14-1.
For BU Coach Nancy Feldman, the win capped a season in which BU struggled to find its offensive touch in the face of a difficult schedule.
‘We created a lot of scoring chances and had a lot of corner kicks,’ Feldman said. ‘Unfortunately, as has been the problem all season, we didn’t finish off a lot of our chances and we scored just two goals.’
BU clearly dominated throughout the contest, outshooting Albany, 35-2, and garnering more corner kicks, 9-0.
‘I think we played well today,’ said senior tri-captain Allison Merkle. ‘As with the entire season, we could have finished off more chances, but in the second half we came out more physical and we owned the ball more.’
The Terriers scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 15:55 of the first half when junior Rebecca Beyer fed a streaking Meghann Cook, who dribbled to the middle of the field and beat Albany goalie Erika VanZandt for a 1-0 BU advantage. Freshman Susan Marschall also had an assist.
The other goal of the contest came just 25 seconds into the second half when Cook led senior Suzanne Hudak in the middle of the goalie box. Hudak chipped the ball around VanZandt to the right side and blasted the ball into the open net. For Hudak, who started all 19 games this year, it was her first goal of the season.
With its 2-0 victory, BU turned its attention to the America East scoreboard, as the Terriers needed some help in order to make the America East Tournament. But with Northeastern University winning, 2-1, against the University of Vermont, BU knew its season was complete. It also marked the first time that the Terriers did not make the conference tournament since 1997. BU won the event the past two seasons.
Sunday’s game also marked the final collegiate contest for BU’s four seniors tri-captains Merkle and Hudak, and Baalman and Tiffany Chag.
‘It’s weird; I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,’ Merkle said after the win. ‘We were all talking and it’s a great accomplishment and we’re all proud of each other. The season might not have gone the way we wanted, but we ended with a win.
‘The team definitely progressed over the season and they are going to be really good next year,’ Merkle said.