The Boston University women’s soccer team continued its recent success Wednesday night against crosstown rival Harvard University, earning a 2-1 double overtime road-win.
With the victory, the Terriers (7-3-3, 2-0-2 Patriot League) now own a 6-0-2 record against the Crimson (6-3-2) in their last eight meetings. The contest also marked the first time these teams have met since BU ousted Harvard 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last November.
BU started the game aggressively, keeping Harvard’s defense on its toes through quick movements toward the goal. Through the first 40 minutes of action, BU held a 10-3 lead over the Crimson in shots. Yet despite fewer opportunities, Harvard was the first to find the back of the net in the 43rd minute when freshman Mia Bladin scored her first goal of her collegiate career off a Harvard corner kick.
While her team entered the half with a deficit, BU coach Nancy Feldman said the assertiveness her team displayed in the opening period impressed her.
“I thought we came out with great intensity,” she said. “I thought we came out with the right attitude, the right mentality and the right competitive level. I wouldn’t say [the Harvard goal] was against the run of play, but we had had some good chances, and I thought it was kind of an unfortunate goal.”
At halftime, the Terriers held an 11-5 advantage in shots taken and took six corner kicks compared to Harvard’s three.
BU finally found success after the restart thanks to its constant pressure. In the 52nd minute, junior defender Lauren MacLellan gathered the ball down the right wing and sent in a cross to junior forward Jenna Fisher, who used her first touch to send the ball into the side of the goal.
The goal was Fisher’s sixth of the season, putting her atop BU’s scoring list for the season and in the second place for goals among the Patriot League.
“We made some great plays, and it resulted in a great goal by Jenna Fisher off a terrific service by Lauren MacLellan,” Feldman said. “Lauren’s been a player as a back that’s an offensive weapon. She delivers good passes. And [for] Jenna Fisher, the goal is an ocean. She has a nose for it right now, and it’s fantastic. She’s come up with some big ones.”
The two teams continued to battle for the rest of regulation, testing each other’s goalkeepers extensively. Harvard goalkeeper Bethany Kanten made nine saves in regulation, while BU goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi made eight.
BU continued to find chances on goal in the first overtime period, recording four shots, two of which on frame. The Crimson earned two corners in the period, yielding just one shooting opportunity.
Five minutes into the second overtime, the Terriers finally found the goal they needed. Sophomore forward Erica Kosienski came off the bench and fired in the winning score from the top of the box over Kanten’s head.
“[Kosienski] turned the player, which is her signature,” Feldman said. “And before you blink, the ball is off her foot traveling over the goalkeeper’s head.”
Feldman described the pleasure of seeing the sophomore return to form after being held scoreless in the first 11 games of the season.
“It’s nice to see Erica grow her confidence to get goals, because she’s a natural,” Feldman said. “She was struggling at the beginning of the season, and then it starts to wear on a player who has high expectations that they should score. Watch out people, because she’s feeling it, and she’s pretty special.”
Senior forward Taylor Krebs was a constant threat throughout the match, recording six shots with five of them landing on goal.
“I thought [Krebs] played on the edge,” Feldman said. “I thought all our forwards were. When you’re going at defenses with speed, you’re going to create opportunities because you’re not allowing your defender to get set.”
