Women’s Soccer: Terriers triumph over No. 25 Harvard in 1-0 upset

By Abbey Chaitin

Boston University women’s soccer (7-6, 3-1 PL) broke Harvard’s (7-1-2) undefeated record on Tuesday in a 1-0 upset of the No. 25 ranked team in the country. While Harvard outshot BU 27 to 2, the Terriers were able to come out with the win. BU’s ability to capitalize on chances at goal, and Harvard’s failure to do so, determined the outcome of the match. 

It was also the first win for BU women’s soccer against a top-25 team since 2014.

An early-game goal from Abigail McNulty set the Terriers up for success. In the 16th minute of the match, McNulty shook two defenders and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner. BU Head Coach Casey Brown said this early-game success was due to a “strong mentality from the get-go,” adding that the Terriers were able to “create things in the final third.” 

The pace of the game was fast and aggressive — there were 13 fouls in total. Both teams connected passes and used the width of the field to their advantage.   

Harvard’s 27 shots were indicative of the Crimson’s dominance of possession, spending a lot of time on BU’s half of the field. However, only nine of those 27 shots were on goal. Harvard was composed in the back but lacked competence once the Crimson made it into the final third. Terrier goalie Celia Braun kept the Terriers in the game with her nine saves. BU remained composed and dedicated throughout the 90 minutes of play.

Brown said that the Terriers were “super organized” and “committed to what they needed to do defensively.” 

Despite Harvard’s play on BU’s half, the Terriers were able to find their way down the field effectively. They connected passes through the center of the field and sent some successful long balls down the sidelines. However, only two of these offensive opportunities were rewarded with a shot. 

The Terriers’ next match is at American University on Saturday at 2 p.m.