BU Wins Season Finale With Early Goal at Navy

A Clare Pleuler strike off a 20 yard free kick in the seventh minute was the only offense the BU Women’s Soccer Team needed as they shutout the Naval Academy 1-0 on Halloween evening.

The Terriers, having already clinched the Patriot League Regular Season Title, played their final regular season contest on the road against a high powered Navy offense, but once again Alyssa Parisi was the star of the night in the victory.

The senior goalkeeper recorded her eighth shutout on the season and her fifth consecutive. Parisi has now allowed just two goals in nine conference games. Her 0.70 GAA leads the Patriot League.

The key going into the game for BU was slowing down the high scoring Navy offense, which led the league in goals, assists, and points. However the Terrier back line led by Rachel Bloznalis, McKenzi Hollenbaugh, and Rachel Blauner rose to the occasion yet again helping Parisi improve her unbeaten streak to 12 games.

The Pleuler goal in the opening minutes was the deciding factor with no team separating themselves from the other for the majority of the contest. BU finished the game with the advantage in shots at 13-8 and corner kicks 5-1.

The win marked Boston University’s 13th straight double digit win season and the 20th for Nancy Feldman in her 21 years at the helm. It also capped off a delightful weekend for Feldman who was selected into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame on Friday.

The Terriers finish the regular season at 10-5-3, 8-0-1 PL atop the league while Navy earned 3rd place honors with a record of 10-6-4, 3-2-4 PL.

BU will have the week off before it hosts the conference tournament semifinals and finals starting Friday at Nickerson Field at 4 PM. The Terriers will play the lowest seed remaining following the two semifinal games on Tuesday.

Despite winning the regular season title, the real challenge for the Terriers starts in the conference tournament. For Coach Feldman’s squad, the goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season begins Friday.