Women’s Soccer Notebook: Terriers secures late 2-1 comeback over Providence
By Abbey Chaitin
Coming off a 1-0 loss to Northeastern in the season-opener, Boston University (1-1-0, 0-0 PL) was hungry for a win on Sunday and bested Providence College (1-1) 2-1, scoring both goals in the final 3:15 of the game on a hot August night.
Although the Terriers got the win, Providence led BU 1-0 late into the match and almost put the game to bed. In the 83rd minute of the game, the Friars took an attacking corner that was met with a header by a Hannah Pinkus and tipped up by Terrier goalie Gretchen Bennett. The ball was then sent back down by the crossbar and onto the goal line where Bennett quickly scooped up the ball. The beginning of cheers could be heard from Providence just as the referee announced that the play was not a goal.
Providence’s near-goal sparked awareness from the Terriers for the remaining minutes in the game. They got the momentum they needed to not only tie, but win the game.
Freshman starter Giulianna Gianino scored her first collegiate goal as the equalizer. After the Terriers struggled to get a shot off all game, Gianino found the ball off a cross from Kayla Ross and smashed it into the back of the net. Gianino’s goal showed a noticeable change in the Terrier’s offensive pace.
Gianino’s goal was soon followed by one from Terrier midfielder Sophia Woodland in the last 13 seconds of the game. Woodland rebounded the ball from a Lily Matthews shot and sank it into the net.
Despite BU’s impressive win, the Terriers struggled in the final third throughout the game. They took far too much time in their attacking half, often making short but sharp passes in enclosed spaces. While their passing was precise, it rarely led to getting a shot off. Anytime the Terriers had the ball at their feet in the final third, they immediately found themselves swarmed by multiple Friars. This tactic from Providence led to numerous Terrier turnovers.
One of these instances culminated in the Friars’ opening goal, which came in the 14th minute from Meg Hughes. Hughes scored her goal one-on-one against goalie Celia Braun and was a focal point for the Providence offense — often taking space on the field and tearing into BU’s backline. Both Hughes (1 SOG) and Gillian Kenney (3 SOG) led the Friars with four total shots each.
The Terriers also had a habit of tearing down the right sideline but then getting stuck in the corner, double-teamed by two Friars. Often one of the two Friars would obtain the ball and clear it. However, nine of those times, BU was rewarded with a corner kick. These corners never turned into a goal and often became an opportune counterattack for Providence.
On the their own ends, both teams held a solid defensive line and passed effectively throughout the field.
The Terriers will face UMass Lowell away on Thursday at 7:30 p.m for their next match.