There’s no place like home. The No. 10 Boston University women’s soccer team will try to close out its home stand with a perfect 4-0 record tonight at 7 p.m. against conference-leading University of Maine. Meanwhile, the No. 22 Black Bears (8-0-1) look to remain unbeaten overall in this battle of nationally ranked juggernauts.
In the Terriers’ last match, they defeated Yale University, 2-1, in overtime on freshman Farrell McClernon’s game-winning goal in the 98th minute. The Terriers initially got on the board when freshman Casey Brown fired a shot toward the upper middle of the net for her second goal.
BU allowed its first goal in that game since a loss at Stanford University, 3-0, on Sept. 17.
“I thought we played well at the beginning of the game,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “We did not play as well in the second half. They could’ve scored the winner. That second half was a concern.”
The Terriers hope to have addressed that concern this week in practice, with Feldman preparing her defense to be in better position and her offense to be “sharper.”
“I think the most important thing is to stay composed,” Feldman said. “We need to keep our tempo and rhythm.”
The freshmen, on the other hand, have contributed a great deal this season. In the last game against Yale, freshmen McClernon and Brown scored both of BU’s goals.
“The freshmen have been great,” Feldman said. “They came in ready to go.”
Senior co-captain Lauren Erwin is another player that has been great this season. She was recognized for the second consecutive time as America East Player of the Week. Saturday, Erwin scored the game-winning goal against Stony Brook University, leading the Terriers to their 10th straight win in America East openers.
“(Erwin’s) a phenomenal player and leader,” Feldman said. “It’s not just about her scoring goals. She’s an example for everybody for how to play the game.”
Another example of how to play the game could be found in watching the Black Bears. In the latest polls, they were ranked No. 22 in the nation, marking the first time in program history that the Black Bears entered the top-25 rankings. The Black Bears’ lone blemish this year was a 1-1 tie against No. 16 University of Connecticut.
“They are a very, very good team,” Feldman said. “They always battle (us).”
Sophomore goalkeeper Jasmine Phillips has been a brick wall this season, leading the Black Bears to their undefeated record while allowing only three goals in nine games this season. Phillips is fourth in the nation with a .936 save percentage and seventh in the nation with a .319 goals against average.
BU counters with senior goalkeeper Stephanie Dreyer, who has been almost equally as stingy as Phillips. Dreyer currently boasts a 0.48 goals-against average along with an 8-1-1 record and seven shutouts.
Dreyer will have to try and stop Maine’s leading goal-scorer, Laura Harper, who has six goals and two assists on the year. Earlier in the season, Harper had a five-game stretch in which she scored in each contest.
In all, the Black Bears will provide BU with a very tough match-up.
“They are very well-coached and very organized,” Feldman said. “They are also very good in goal. They’re a formidable opponent and (it) gives us a chance to see how we match up against the best in the conference.”
Feldman believes the team has a good chance to win if they continue to play well in pressure situations and avoid as many mental mistakes as possible.
“We need to be playing better under pressure,” Feldman said. “Being able to be a 90-minute team while not losing composure is important. We need to be defending better as a unit and be more precise in the attacking third.”