Women’s Soccer: Terriers Finish Non-Conference Slate with Win Over Harvard

By: Matthew Doherty

BOSTON- Anna Heilferty’s goal in the opening minutes of Wednesday night’s match was all the offense the Terriers needed to upend cross-town foe Harvard.

Just 5:36 into the contest, Christina Wakefield found Heilferty outside the box before the forward ripped a left-footed shot from twelve yards out past Crimson keeper Danielle Etzel. It was Heilferty’s first career goal. The strike game BU a one-goal lead; it would be the only goal of the game as the Terriers prevailed 1-0.

After allowing their first goal in five matches last time out against Navy, the Terrier defense regained its stride Wednesday night, posting their seventh shutout of the season. Senior backs Alivya Wimmer and Rachel Bloznalis continued their strong play on the backend as the anchors of the defense allowed just four shots to get on net.

“It’s a commitment by everybody,” Head Coach Nancy Feldman said about her defense. “It starts from the organization of the forwards and midfielders. Owning territory is part of not allowing shots. Our backs have been tremendous.”

Freshman goaltender Amanda Fay notched her sixth shutout of the season, making four saves in the contest.

BU outshot Harvard 20-6, and doubled the Crimson’s shots on goal with an 8-4 margin.  The scarlet and white have now outshot their opponents in seven straight games.

With the win, the Terriers avenged their overtime lost at Harvard last October, when former Crimson superstar Margaret Purce scored two goals in the crushing defeat.

The Terriers have now finished their non-conference season, recording a 3-5-2 record in ten games. They did, however, go 3-1 against non-power five opponents over that stretch, including a perfect 2-0 against the Ivy League.

BU currently sits at 6-6-3 overall and 3-1-1 in the Patriot League, and has allowed just one goal since September 10th. But Coach Feldman is far from satisfied with her team that sits fourth in the conference.

“I think we can play more consistently,” Feldman said. “Things are going to take care of themselves in the Patriot League standings. If we have some more patience and poise than we can put ourselves in a good position.”

The Terriers will complete their regular season schedule with four consecutive games against conference opponents. That stretch begins Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Terriers play host to Loyola Maryland at Nickerson Field.