Women’s soccer wraps up frustrating weekend against Akron, Northeastern

The Boston University women’s soccer team had a disappointing weekend, tying the University of Akron in a 1-1 contest Friday night before dropping a 1-0 match to crosstown rivals Northeastern University Sunday afternoon.

Perhaps in response to a lackluster start against the University of San Francisco Sept. 7, the Terriers (4-3-1) came out especially aggressive in Friday’s contest versus the Zips (3-3-1), holding possession and garnering two shots in the game’s opening minutes. Senior forward Taylor Krebs scored her first goal of the season, putting back a loose ball off a corner kick from senior forward Ana Cuffia in the tenth minute.

“There was great energy coming in warm-up and in pregame, and I thought that we started the game really well,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “That’s how we need to start every game.”

From there, both teams struggled to gain momentum offensively. Freshman defender Alivya Wimmer, who earned her first start of her BU career due to sophomore defender Rachel Bloznalis’ season-ending injury, held strong with senior defender Kai Miller against a hungry Akron attack.

The Zips almost equalized midway through the first half, as forward Lani Smith’s shot went over the outstretched arms of senior goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi, but hit the post, allowing Parisi another chance to bring the ball to safety.

After entering the game with around ten minutes remaining in the half, sophomore forward Erica Kosienski and freshman forward Christina Wakefield inserted new life into the BU offense, each unleashing a shot. However, their efforts failed to get past Zips goalkeeper Klaire Adee, and despite outshooting Akron 7-2, the Terriers went into halftime with a slim one-goal advantage.

Akron entered the second half of play with a newfound tenacity, immediately bringing the ball into BU territory and forcing two consecutive corner kicks. On the second corner, forward Karin Norman’s kick found its way to midfielder Karina Atkinson who placed the ball into the net from point-blank range, tying things up just over a minute into the period.

Once again, neither the Zips nor the Terriers could gain control of the tempo following the goal. Feldman made nine substitutions in the half in an attempt to get something going for the home side, but BU still failed to find an answer for Atkinson’s goal. Fifteen minutes left in regulation, junior defender McKenzie Hollenbaugh almost broke through with a shot from just outside the 18-yard box, but the ball just grazed the crossbar and flew over the goal.

In addition, Wimmer and Miller had their hands full trying to contain Smith, who frequently tried to take on the defenders one-on-one. With both teams unable to break the draw in regulation, the match headed to extra time.

The two ten-minute overtime periods came and went without any real scoring chances from the Terriers or the Zips, resulting in a frustrating 1-1 draw for BU.

Despite the draw, Feldman remained happy with her team’s overall offensive mindset.

“I was pretty pleased with our overall attacking mindset, and I thought we stayed aggressive for most of the game. There’s some added composure that I’d like to have that will continue to grow as the season goes on. So I was pleased with that part, tactical wise and style wise and having an attacking mindset.”

Feldman’s squad looked to rectify things and start a new home winning streak Sunday afternoon, but the Huskies (4-2-2) had other plans.

For most of the afternoon, both defensive units reigned supreme, allowing little opportunities. While the Terriers earned a 3-1 advantage in shots in the first half, BU also gifted the Huskies six corner kicks compared to the Terriers’ zero. With no outstanding scoring opportunities on either side, the teams ended the first half tied 0-0.

Finally, the Huskies broke through when a save from Parisi gave the visitors their ninth corner kick of the game in the 85th minute. Midfielder Breeana Koemans’ kick then made its way through the penalty box and connected with the foot of defender Bianca Calderone, giving the Huskies a lead that they would not surrender.

Although the last two goals that the Terriers have conceded have come off corner kicks, BU assistant coach Casey Brown said the team’s overall organization on set pieces remains solid.

“Our organization is actually pretty good,” Brown said. “Some moments, we’re trying to over help and because of that, it’s creating a little bit of space and people are capitalizing on moments. I don’t think we should be giving up nine corner kicks in a game. Being a little tighter and trust in what we do will help us.”

Now, the Terriers (4-3-1) will head into Patriot League play when they take on the United States Naval Academy Saturday at Nickerson Field. Feldman said she hopes the start of conference play will spark improved performances from her team as a complete unit.

“The next game, I expect us to show more progress in this particular area of imprinting our style and having composure when it’s hard to keep the ball and being all on the same page that way,” Feldman said. “If one or two players in momentums don’t have that composure, then it looks like the whole team doesn’t have it…When it’s not there in one way or the other, it’s not there altogether.”