Terriers Will Face Navy in Most Daunting Fixture to Date

By Akshai Wadhwani        October 6, 2017

BOSTON — Two of the highest flying teams in the Patriot League will meet in Annapolis, Maryland, late Saturday evening when the Boston University women’s soccer team takes on the Navy Midshipmen.

The Terriers (5-5-3, 3-0-1 PL) have won four of their last five matches, including a 6-0 demolishing of American in their opening Patriot League fixture, and, most recently, a 3-0 road victory against Lafayette. In that contest the Leopards didn’t record a single shot.

The Terriers currently sit in fourth place in the conference; Saturday’s matchup will be the first time BU faces one of the three teams above them in the standings.

The Mids (11-3, 4-0) are one of just two remaining teams in the league with a perfect conference record; they sit in first place in the Patriot League, edging out Bucknell, who is also undefeated in PL play, via win percentage. Navy is cruising on an incredible seven-match win streak, having most recently drawn back-to-back 2-0 victories against American and Lehigh, respectively.

Saturday’s match can be compared to an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

Over the course of the Navy’s seven-game win streak, they have scored 22 goals, while the Terriers have not conceded a goal in almost 500 minutes. The Mids are averaging more than 14 shots per match; since starting Patriot League play, BU has been allowing opponents less than five shots per match. The Terriers’ defensive superstars, Rachel Bloznalis and Alivya Wimmer, will face the devastating offense of Navy’s Eleanor Pratt and Ash Fairow—league leaders in goals with nine and seven, respectively—as well as Clare MacAdam (three goals, four assists). The league’s freest-flowing offense will clash with its most unyielding defense.

The Terriers are unlikely to be intimidated. Having seen their high press and wing play tactics work to a tee in recent games, as well as being fresh off of their overtly dominant victory over Lafayette, BU should be raring to go when the day arrives. Make no mistake, however—the Terriers will need to play their boots off to take points from this fixture.

Kickoff from Glenn Warner Soccer Facility will be at 8 P.M.