BU’s defense does more than just stop goals

With the Boston University women’s soccer team still working to find an offensive rhythm, there has been increased pressure on Terrier defenders to perform at their peak. In the team’s last two games, the BU defense has not only stepped up its effort to limit opponents’ scoring chances, but also has contributed in big ways on the offensive end.

Sophomore Casey Brown has been centering the backfield all season, containing the opposition and pushing the ball up for the forwards and midfielders to attack the goal. In each of the last two games, Brown has found the back of the net, igniting an offense that has received little production from anywhere else.

It may be a little odd to see a defender’s name show up on the scorecard in back-to-back games, but the goals were not flukes by any stretch. In fact, at the rate Brown has been playing, it’s a surprise she hasn’t put more balls past opposing keepers.

Brown opened the floodgates in last Thursday’s 4-0 drubbing of the University at Albany with a goal off a corner by junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge. Brown’s goal was the first of the contest, and it was the first game all year in which the Terriers scored more than one goal. In Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Dartmouth College, Brown once again gave BU a first-half lead.

In the 40th minute, sophomore Mara Osher earned a free kick when a Dartmouth player took her down. Freshman Lina Cords, another member of the BU backfield, fed the ball to Osher, who then sent a long cross to Brown. After receiving the ball, Brown put a quick turn on a defender and drilled a hard ball just past the arms of Dartmouth keeper Amanda Webb for her second goal in as many games.

“It kind of went short, so I ran after it,” Brown said. “I just took a chance to put it on goal and I scored. Every time we get a set piece, I know it’s a really dangerous opportunity.”

Brown played tough defense all game, stripping Big Green attackers several times and showing off some impressive ball-handling skills and was at the forefront of the Terriers’ goal-scoring chances.

In the 25th minute, Schumacher-Hodge sent a great corner across the goal to Brown, who was waiting to pump the ball into the net. Brown rushed the shot a bit and fanned on the great opportunity, allowing the ball to be cleared up the field.

“I want that one back,” Brown said. “The ball just stopped right under my foot and I wasn’t able to get around it for a shot. I really wanted that one, so I had to try and get one back.”

Less than five minutes later, Brown had another quality scoring chance when Cords sent in a ball from midfield on a free kick. After sophomore Emily Pallotta headed the ball up in the air, Brown got a good head on the ball and sent it to the upper left corner of the goal, forcing the keeper to make a leaping save. Brown and Cords nearly connected for another scoring chance on a free kick in the 58th minute that Cords sent just over the head of a leaping Brown.

“Casey had three golden scoring opportunities tonight,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “She’s in that spot in the attack on set pieces for a reason. The reason is because she can finish with her head, and she’s capable of doing what she just did, which is striking a ball with power.”

The two defenders continued to press on offense when the game carried into overtime. Late in the first overtime, Cords sent in a great ball on a free kick. After bouncing over the Dartmouth defenders waiting in front of the net, the ball very nearly ended up in the back of the net as Brown chased it down. She charged in behind the defense and came close to getting a shot off from a few feet away, but the ball was deflected out of bounds for a BU corner kick.

Brown’s offensive pressure over the last two games has been a spark for an offense in desperate need of a catalyst. If the Terrier backs can continue to create chances, the offense will be able to take its time and let plays develop rather than pressing to score goals as they have all year.

“I was able to get on the end of a few balls, so it was good to create those opportunities and create havoc in the box,” Brown said. “Lina has a great deep ball, and we can just try to find some of her targets, which we did tonight.”