Women’s Soccer: Gianino wonder goal lifts Terriers over UMass Lowell

By Cameron Meyer

Already in the young season, freshman Giulianna Gianino has emerged as a star for Boston University Women’s Soccer (2-1-0, 0-0 PL). Going into Thursday’s game against UMass Lowell (1-2-0), she had already scored her first collegiate goal in a thrilling comeback this past Sunday against Providence, and was one of the Terriers’ best performers in their first two games.

Only seven minutes into the match, Gianino gathered the ball with her back to goal and two defenders bearing down on her.

With a quick turn of pace and a beautiful spark of skill, the first year skipped past her two markers and then past another until she saw an open look at goal 20 yards out. Without a second thought, Gianino rifled one towards the top corner and past the diving hands of goalkeeper Taylor Burgess.

Gianino’s goal was one laden with skill, confidence and control and it symbolized much of the Terriers’ performance on Thursday. From the first whistle, the Terriers dominated the River Hawks, controlling the midfield and outworking the home side on every inch of turf at Cushing Field.

Even when the River Hawks had a chance to break into a counter attack via forwards Ioanna Papatheodorou and Chloe Layne, the Terrier backline spearheaded by Ashley Buck and Eileen Solomon gave them no space to breathe and forced mistakes from the attacking pair.

It was only a matter of time after Gianino’s strike that the Terriers would score their second of the night. After a successful turn from graduate student Amy Thompson on the right wing, she fired a ball into the box toward Abigail McNulty, who slotted her chance away to double the lead.

Although the Terriers were unable to capitalize on the rest of their chances on Thursday, the away side seemed comfortable and were cruising throughout both halves. However, with 10 minutes to go and frustration starting to get the best of the River Hawks in the form of ten fouls in the second half, Terrier comfort became complacency.

In the 81st minute, a handball in the box was called on Buck, giving the River Hawks a penalty. Luckily for the Terriers, goalkeeper Gretchen Bennett made a huge save against Papatheodorou to keep her clean sheet.

But with minutes left on the clock, the River Hawks hurried into the box in what became a defensive scramble for the Terriers. With just five seconds remaining, forward Calliste Brookshire, unmarked in the box, fired past Bennett, giving the home side a consolation goal and spoiling the Terriers’ clean sheet.

The Terriers will look to build on their back-to-back wins at home on Sunday, where they will face Michigan at 12 p.m.