Women’s Soccer: Overtime Goal Downs Terriers Again, this Time in Brookline
By Akshai Wadhwani August 30, 2018
BROOKLINE, MA – Losing matches via overtime goals after giving up second half leads is becoming an unwelcome theme for Nancy Feldman’s Terriers.
On Thursday evening, BU surrendered a 2-1 lead over Northeastern just before the midway point of the second frame before going on to concede the golden goal just over three minutes into the latter half of extra time. Similar events occurred two games ago in New York, when Hofstra erased the Terriers’ 1-0 lead with a 90th minute equalizer before scoring the winner in 2OT.
The first half provided a tale of the usual suspects. Hannah Rosenblatt’s 15th-minute opener marked her fourth and fifth career points against BU; nine minutes later, McKenna Doyle drew the visitors level, repeating the feat she accomplished as a freshman against Northeastern in 2015. Finally, in the 38th minute, Anna Heilferty struck net with a brilliant individual goal for her second tally of the season.
The Terriers’ halftime advantage triggered a fiery response from the Huskies, who notched the first five shots of the second forty-five. The last of those five prompted a heroic effort from BU center back McKenna Kennedy, who sprinted back to volley the ball off the line after goalkeeper Morgan Messner was beaten by a shot from Northeastern’s Nicole Gorman.
Unfortunately for the Terriers, Kennedy’s lifesaving clearance served only to delay impending blows. It was Gorman, in fact, who was not to be denied again in the 63rd minute, as she curled a right-footed effort past Messner and into the far corner.
BU pressed to regain their lead, with freshman Lauren Adelman forcing a terrific save out of Northeastern keeper Nathalie Nidetch in the 82nd minute. The Terriers and the Huskies eventually deadlocked at ten shots each as the second half drew to a close, completing a total shot count for the first 90 minutes of 20-16 in BU’s favor.
After an uneventful first overtime period, Northeastern repeated history in the 104th minute.
2015: Huskie forward Kayla Cappuzzo launches a 25-yard rocket off the left post and in, giving Northeastern a 2-1 double overtime victory over the Terriers.
Present day: Huskie midfielder Valentina Soares Gache lets loose with a 35-yard thunderbolt off the underside of the crossbar and past a flailing Messner—giving Northeastern a 3-2 double overtime victory over the Terriers.
With the golden goal finish, BU drops to 0-5 on the season, while Northeastern improves to 2-3-0. The Terriers have now lost five of the last six matchups between the two teams.
Final shot totals went the way of the Scarlet and White, who edged out the Huskies at 20-19; Northeastern, however, led in shots on goal at 9-8. BU’s Messner equaled the combined save total of both her counterparts (Megan Adams occupied net for the Huskies in the first half), making six stops over the course of the match. Heilferty led the Terriers with five shots and three points (a goal and an assist), followed by Doyle, with four attempts accompanying her goal. Taylor Kofton and Hannah Wilcox took two shots each, the first efforts of the season for the latter.
Next Up: The Terriers will return to Nickerson Field to face the Huskies again—that is, the UConn Huskies, who will arrive in town for a Sunday afternoon clash. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.