To put it bluntly, the Terriers’ offense has been struggling mightily the first month of the season. After scoring just three goals in their first seven games, the Terriers came alive to put on an offensive performance Friday that hinted the offense may be starting to awaken from its slumber.
Although BU (3-4-1) played to a 1-1 draw in double overtime against the University of Minnesota (3-3-1), it was the best offensive performance the Terriers have managed through their first eight games. Scoring chances were pouring in during the second half, something the Terrier faithful had not yet seen this season.
Heading into Friday’s contest with the Golden Gophers, BU knew it was facing a potent offense that was averaging nearly 2.5 goals scored per game. Minnesota challenged the Terriers early on with intense offensive pressure, leading to a few quick scoring chances.
“We sleepwalked through the first half and looked very tentative and passive,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “We did some okay things, but the fight wasn’t there and the level of aggressiveness wasn’t there.”
The Gophers capitalized on their best opportunity 10 minutes into the first half when Katie Bethke sent a corner kick into the six-yard box. After the ball bounced around the jumble of players, it found its way to the foot of Minnesota’s Lindsey Schwartz, who put it past redshirt freshman Janie Reilly for her team-leading fifth goal of the year.
The Terriers played an ugly first half, struggling to put together any sort of sustained pressure on Minnesota’s defense. BU put together strong passes in the middle of the field, but once the ball entered the attacking third the Terriers’ play became ineffective.
That all changed at the start of the second half, when the Terriers emerged from their shells. They played with tenacity. They moved the ball up the field. They looked like they were playing like the team they were supposed to be for maybe the first time all season.
“At halftime we didn’t make tactical adjustments, but I told the team that games aren’t going to be won by sitting back and letting it happen,” Feldman said. “If you aren’t aggressive and don’t make the most of moments, we aren’t going to win.”
BU’s hustle early in the half led to a pair of free kicks that showed the signs of an offensive spark being ignited. The Terriers were able to capitalize in the 72nd minute when redshirt freshman Shauna Kelleher sent a strong pass into the middle to sophomore Farrell McClernon. After taking her time to collect the pass, McClernon deposited her second goal of the year past the outstretched Minnesota goalkeeper, knotting the score at one.
“I just saw it and put it in,” McClernon said. “We knew they were playing a three-back defense, which is something we haven’t played against, so our mentality was to challenge them.”
McClernon’s goal foreshadowed of the type of offensive pressure the Terriers unloaded on Minnesota in the second half and overtime. Senior Lauren Basham made a quick move to get open on the right flank and gave a brilliant cross to sophomore Emily Pallotta, who used a strong header to send the ball toward the net, but it smacked off the crossbar and was cleared out by the Gophers.
“It was a great ball in and I just tried to get the best piece of it,” Pallotta said. “I thought it was going in.”
In the second overtime session, Basham gave the Terriers another great chance to score when she passed a ball into the box to sophomore Mara Osher. She struck the ball well, but Gopher netminder Chelsey Hunter came up with the tough save to keep the score tied.
Not to be outshined by the Terriers’ offense, goalie Janie Reilly’s quality play in goal kept BU in the game. Reilly made six saves and, with the help of her defenders, was able to hold the high-powered Minnesota offense to one goal. A characteristically strong game from the defense gave BU the time to even the score and go on the offensive in the second half and overtime.
“The response was good in the second half and in the overtimes,” Feldman said. “Our mentality changed. We were doing the same things, but we were more aggressive, assertive and confident.
“We had many more fantastic chances than they did,” she added. “If we don’t attack games then there are going to be teams who want it more than we do, so we can’t just sit back and let them attack. We learned you can’t waste 45 minutes of a game.”
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