After another painful shutout loss at the hands of the Yale Bulldogs on Wednesday night, a game against the University of Vermont might be just what the doctor ordered.
With their scoring woes well documented, the Terriers will surely welcome a game against the Catamounts (1-7-1) — winless in their last eight games — at such a crucial point in BU’s season as it heads into conference play.
The Terrier (3-5-1) defense continues to play well, supported by redshirt freshman Janie Reilly and a solid group of core backers. Reilly was named America East Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday, and with the help of her aggressive defenders, she has kept her team in every game this year. The Terriers have not allowed more than one goal in a game since their first contest of the season – a 2-0 loss to Stanford University.
While the defense has been consistently impressive, allowing only seven goals in nine games, the offense has been terrible, tallying only four goals. The chances have been there for BU, especially over the last three games, but the attackers have struggled mightily to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Our ability to attack and our ability to score goals is a process,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “It’s coming along with practice, with us focusing on our level of aggressiveness and composure in the attacking third. We are getting better and I know we’ve got players on this team that can score goals. We just have to work at it a little bit.”
The Terriers will try to remedy their offensive inefficiency Sunday when they take on a Catamount team that has allowed 19 goals through the first half of the season. But Feldman isn’t taking the Catamounts lightly.
“It really has a whole lot less to do with the opponent than it has to do with us,” Feldman said. “All the games on our schedule are good teams. Every opponent is capable of shutting you down and scoring goals on you. I don’t really worry too much about who we’re playing and how familiar we are with them.”
Vermont started its season on the right foot with a 1-0 win over the University of Central Arkansas before playing back-to-back overtime matches. The Catamounts lost a 2-1 overtime decision to George Washington University and then played to a 1-1 draw against St. Mary’s College in double overtime. Since those three tightly contested games, however, Vermont has lost six straight, getting outscored by a dozen goals in that period. Sunday’s match will be the fifth in a stretch of six straight road games for the Catamounts.
“Vermont’s really good, they compete well,” Feldman said. “They play a good possession style. They can knock the ball around pretty well and break you down with their possession.”
With the start of conference play comes the knowledge that every team now has a clean slate and a fresh start.
“It’s the first game of conference, so everyone is even,” Feldman said. “Everyone has hope and is motivated. We’re going to get their best game and I’m feeling confident they’re going to get our best game. We’re expecting them to come out really firing.”
Except for a home game against Dartmouth College on Oct. 8, the Terriers only have America East games remaining on their schedule. Now that non-conference games are in the past, the Terriers are geared up for the intensity of league action.
“I’m expecting to see a lot of passion for every match,” Feldman said. “Every match is vital because it positions you above or below that conference opponent. It’s exciting, a little touchup for the postseason. Other teams are going to be battling to the end. Non-conference games are meaningful, but the stakes are a little bit higher now.”
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