The Boston University women’s soccer team started off its 2015 season with a loss Friday night in Chestnut Hill in its opening match against rival Boston College by a score of 2-1. It is the first time BU has lost a season opener since 2010.
The Terriers (0-1) battled all game long, but were set back by a few bounces that led to the Eagles (1-0) taking advantage and tallying both of their goals. Despite the loss, BU coach Nancy Feldman said she was pleased with how her team performed.
“I think we did alright,” Feldman said. “I think that the team came ready to compete. There were some individuals that really stood out to me and had good performances, and there were some younger players who gained some really valuable experience against a very good opponent — that’s only going to make us better moving forward.”
“I am disappointed that we put ourselves in a position to get a result, and we didn’t,” she added. “We have some work to do on finding ways to play better and win those games, but overall for the opener, and for the level of competition we were up against, I thought there were some really good signs.”
Playing in heavy rainfall throughout the game, the two teams struggled to create scoring opportunities until the 16th minute, when Eagles forward McKenzie Meehan fired a shot towards goal that senior goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi was able to deflect. However, the deflection bounced off the back of a BU defender and landed at the feet of Meehan, who was then able to put the ball past Parisi for her first goal of the season.
After 57 minutes of battling in the less-than-ideal conditions, the Terriers finally broke through when senior midfielder Rachel Blauner scored off a cross to the left post from freshman striker McKenna Doyle, tying the game in the 73rd minute.
Doyle was just one of a handful of freshmen who impressed Feldman on Friday. Also playing in their first collegiate match were defenders Chelsea Churchill, Pietra Sweeney and Julianna Chen, as well as midfielder Dorrie Varley-Barrett.
“We got a strong group,” Feldman said when asked about the freshman class. “They’re eager, strong physically, they have good soccer sense and abilities and they’re coachable. We’ve seen that all through preseason.”
“McKenna Doyle has proven to be someone who has some separation speed and quickness and has a tenacity in the way she plays, it’s a really good sign. Julianna Chen played the defensive center spot, and while she has some things to learn about some of the finer details, I think overall her performance was strong. And we had some good contributions from Sweeney and Churchill who came off of the bench, along with Varley-Barrett.”
“As they get a little more sophisticated in their play, I think we need them,” Feldman added. “And how fast they come along will be a factor in either being really successful or not. There’s some opportunity for them to help and contribute.”
Despite strong play from the freshmen, BC would get the last laugh in the 80th minute, when Meehan found the ball at her feet after a misplayed clearance by BU and bounced her shot off the crossbar and into the net past junior goalkeeper Bridget Conway, who came in at halftime to replace Parisi. The Eagles were able to keep the Terriers from generating any more scoring opportunities and notched the win.
Feldman said she is aware of what her team must work on over the next few weeks after Friday’s loss.
“We need to continue to get more in attack,” Feldman said. “I thought at times we were impatient last night, so we need to balance that aggressiveness and be a little more aware of what is available and be ready to play aggressively and penetrate, but not giving away those really valuable possessions.”
Nick is currently writing for the Boston Hockey Blog. In the past, he has served as associate sports editor, and has covered men's and women's cross-country, women's soccer, men's basketball, and men's lacrosse for the Daily Free Press. You can keep track of Nick's exciting life by following him on Twitter at @nikfraz14
