Women’s Soccer: Terriers fight to a tough draw against Army
By: Ethan Fuller
BOSTON – Despite launching a season-high 27 shots, Boston University women’s soccer lost hold of its six-game winning streak with a 1-1 tie against Army on Wednesday evening.
The Terriers (7-7-3) remain unbeaten in the Patriot League at 5-0-2, but the deadlock dropped them to second in the conference standings after Colgate (6-0-1) won its match against Holy Cross on the same night. The Black Knights snapped their own three-game losing streak with the draw, moving them to 6-4-6 on the year (2-3-2 in Patriot League).
The result is a tough pill to swallow for BU, as most of the match featured the team’s signature offensive barrage. In the first half, the Terriers managed nine shot attempts to Army’s one, and forced two corner kicks. In the 23rd minute, a well-hit set piece from sophomore forward Anna Heilferty found Taylor Kofton in the box, who flushed the ball into the net.
For Kofton, the goal was her fourth in the past five games. Meanwhile, Heilferty’s assist was her fifth on the year, which paces the team.
The second half appeared to be all BU, as they continued to pound the ball at the visitors. However, in the 67th minute, the Black Knights caught the Terrier defense struggling to recover; Army midfielder Morgan Walsh received a short pass from teammate Lauryn Westman off a rebounding ball, and converted the chance for her fourth goal of the season.
“In the second half [Army] was beating us to balls and we lost control of the match even though we had the ball more” said head coach Nancy Feldman. “We let them back into the game because we started to relax just a hair.”
After the score, BU went back on the offensive. Heilferty, who launched eight shots in the game, hit the left post twice. Senior Julianna Chen nearly finished off another corner kick, but a Black Knight defender swooped in to knock the ball away. Army would not shoot again during the match, while the Terriers took 18 shots in the second half and overtime.
The match’s stats heavily favored the home team, who led in shots (27-2) and corner kicks (9-0), while also fouling less (6-16). Even so, one chance was all the Black Knights needed. Wednesday’s game served as a reminder that with a one-goal lead, the Terriers can’t let up.
“The frustration to me is that we let our foot off the gas,” Feldman said.
But she also pointed out that the issue is correctable.
“It’s something we can control. It’s not out of our control,” she said.
The Terriers next square off against Bucknell, who has knocked BU out of the playoffs each of the last two years. The match is certain to be high-energy, as it will be the last regular season contest at Nickerson Field, while also celebrating Senior Night. With Boston University fighting to reclaim the top seed in the Patriot League, this pivotal fixture will kick off Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.