The long wait is over.
It appears that the ball is beginning to bounce the right way for the Boston University women’s soccer team, as the lone goal in BU’s 1-0 victory over Brown University (0-4-1) last night come on a quality shot that took a lucky bounce, resulting in just the Terriers’ third score of the season.
The Terriers (3-4-0) halted a streak of three consecutive shutout losses in the final game of their five-game road trip that began in Wisconsin two weekends ago. BU has won by 1-0 scores in each of its three victories, a testament to the strong defensive pressure it forces on its opponents.
In a back-and-forth game that featured several momentum swings, sophomore Mara Osher provided all the offense that redshirt freshman goaltender Janie Reilly and the Terrier defense needed. Osher made a quick turn from about 20 yards out and took a well-placed shot to the upper corner of the goal. Brown goalkeeper Steffi Yellin tried to push the ball up and over the crossbar, but it came back down and trickled into the net just two minutes into the second half.
“It was really an innocuous shot,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “That isn’t typically a great goal-scoring opportunity. It was a perfectly struck ball. If you don’t shoot you can’t score.”
BU recognized that Yellin, who stands at only 5-foot-4, would have trouble reaching shots near the top of the goal.
“We were playing against a goalie who was pretty small,” Feldman said. “The players certainly knew she was 5’4″. In a situation like that, you think about getting shots on goal. Good things will happen.”
To say scoring has been a season-long challenge for the Terriers would be a gross understatement. The fact is, after seven games, it is clear that the strength of these Terriers is a defense that attacks opponents with smart, focused pressure.
“The backs were great tonight,” Feldman said. “They had to deal with a lot of pressure. I think [sophomore] Casey Brown had a great game tonight. She is really doing a great job holding us together out there. I would have to say that she and Mara were the stars of the game.”
BU has allowed only five goals through seven games, while discovering a freshman goalkeeper unfazed by her lack of experience.
Reilly, who continues to split time with senior Christina Reuter, has lead the team to a 3-1 record in four starts, while allowing just one goal. Reilly had another impressive game in net yesterday, turning aside six Bears shots.
One of those saves came on a diving stop against Brown forward Lindsay Cunningham. The junior made a fast move and fired the ball toward the right corner of the goal, but Reilly leapt to her side and gathered the ball.
“Janie was very sure in the goal tonight,” Feldman said. “She did well in the situation she was in and played very strong.”
The offense still lacked the desired flow Feldman and the Terriers are searching for. Crisp passing kept the Terriers in possession for a long time, but they were unable to maintain the attack once they got into the offensive zone near the Bears’ goal.
“In spurts, we put some passes together,” Feldman said. “We put some balls on the attack. It felt like we just needed to do it more. We got caught in their style a little bit in the first half there, but we came out better in the second half.”
Once the Terriers took the lead, they began to play a much more defensive brand of soccer, slowing down the game to eliminate quick offensive bursts. It turned out to be just what the Terriers needed to put an end to their losing streak.
“It’s all about taking steps,” Feldman said, “and tonight that was finding a way to score.”
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