Women’s Soccer: Adelman’s heroics propel Terriers over Harvard

By: Ethan Fuller

BOSTON, MA  –  Freshman Lauren Adelman made quite an impact with her second goal as a Terrier, scoring in the 96th minute of overtime to bring Boston University the win over Harvard on Tuesday night. The goal lifted BU to its fifth straight triumph and provided a thrilling end to their non-conference schedule. The Terriers now sit at 6-7-2 on the season, while the Crimson drop to 5-5-1.

Adelman received the chance off a corner kick from junior Ann Marie Jaworski, and she drilled the ball into the upper right corner to seal the win.

Regulation featured a bevy of offensive chances from both teams. BU’s high-powered attack was in full effect during the first half, generating nine shots and three corners. However, it was Harvard who broke through first in the tenth minute; midfielder Leah Mohammadi cashed in from a set piece, breaking the Terriers’ 459-minute shutout streak.

Harvard keeper Kat Hess was on her game through 54 minutes of action. She saved eight attempts—some requiring impressive diving stops.

Still, the BU pressure refused to subside; the Terriers continued with six shots and three more corner kicks in the second half. In the 89th minute, Anna Heilferty sent her own direct shot at the net. The ball was mishandled by Crimson keeper Danielle Etzel, leading to the game-tying score. This marked the second straight game in which a crucial Terrier goal has come within the last five minutes of regular time, after freshman Taylor Kofton’s last-minute game-winner against Navy last week.

From the start of overtime, the pressure was all on Harvard as BU forced a set piece within two minutes. Just minutes later they created another set piece opportunity, which resulted in Adelman’s game-winning conversion.

Despite giving up an early lead, the Terriers continued to display aggression on offense throughout the contest. Their tenacity led them to their second nonconference win and served as a testament to the growth of the team.

The freshmen have also stepped up during the most recent stretch of games. Last week, Kofton produced all three of Boston University’s goals, and Tuesday’s match saw the quick, explosive Adelman add to the momentum. Nancy Feldman started three freshman for the contest against Harvard and played four others, giving them valuable experience in a game that has no conference playoff implications.

The Terriers hit the road for their next game, traveling to play Loyola Maryland. The Greyhounds are 5-8 on the year but just 1-4 in the Patriot League, and are coming off a 1-0 loss at Holy Cross. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.