Women’s Soccer: Terriers clinch a bye in an electric win against Army

By Finley Rogan

Boston University Women’s Soccer (5-7-5, 5-0-4 PL) defeated the Army Black Knights (11-5-1, 5-3-1 PL) 1-0 Tuesday night at Nickerson Field. The teams entered the regular season finale tied for second in the Patriot League table with 16 points each. The win provides the Terriers a bye in the Patriot League tournament.

Both teams entered play with so much at stake as the winner would get a bye in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament. The Terriers with a draw could have still secured a bye, but they would need other results to go their way.

Assistant Coach Megan Burke said after the game that the mentality was always to win the match and leave nothing to chance.

The Terriers knew entering play it would be tough to find offensive chances as Army had shutout back-to-back opponents, and allowed one goal per game on the season.

The match started out quickly with each team asserting themselves physically. Neither team could find an edge through 10 minutes. Both squads had solid runs into the box but could not find a clean cross or shot through all of the bodies.

BU got their second corner of the night in the 16th minute but the ball in was too close to goal, resulting in an easy catch for senior goalkeeper, Sage Strohman. The Terriers got another corner two minutes later however, but it led to the same result.

Army had a wonderful chance in the 19th minute when a ball was played right around the final Terrier defender. BU was lucky, however, as freshman goalie Bridget Carr sprinted out and grabbed the ball with a dive.

The Terriers sought to build up their play quickly with the long ball. BU midfielders were only taking a few dribbles before launching the ball ahead to find the star junior duo of forwards, Margy Porta and Giulianna Gianino. Porta almost found the back of the net off a cross in the 24th minute but Army senior goalkeeper Sage Strohman made a save. In a first half where Army looked uncoordinated, Strohman kept them in it making her saves look comfortable.

The Black Knights found their first push in the 30th minute but BU was able to weather the storm of runs and crosses without much effort.

On their fourth corner, the Terriers managed to not kick it straight into the keeper like they had previously, but Army cleared the ball. BU quickly came back down and a deflection led to their fifth of the half, which led to a header from Giuliannna Gianino which unfortunately went just wide.

The Terriers had another quality look in the 38th minute from junior forward Giulianna Gianino but her outside-of-the-box shot went well over the net. Just a minute later on the counter attack, Gianino cut inside onto her weak foot and launched a high-velocity shot right on goal requiring Army senior goalkeeper Sage Strohman to make an impressive stop.

The half ended scoreless with no shortage of chances for BU.

The Terriers started the second half the way they finished the first half, with a great chance. After a free pass through the box, junior forward Margy Porta weaved her way through an Army defender and riffled a shot on goal. The ball deflected out for a corner. BU found another great chance off the corner but the shot could not find its way through traffic.

Once again BU had another outstanding chance in the 55th minute, and once again junior forward Giulianna Gianino had a rocket of a shot saved. A few minutes after that junior midfielder Mackenzie Stickleman had a shot in the box which went just wide. The Terriers just couldn’t break through.

Army had their first great chance of the second half with a great cross, however nobody made it into the box in time and the ball went out. Army took control of the game after that chance however the Terriers remained stout defensively. As the game approached the 70th minute, a draw seemed the most likely result.

The Terriers retook control of the game after the 75th minute. They had another chance with a loose ball in the box off a corner but once again the ball was shot above the net and out of play. BU prepared for a final push, as junior forward Margy Porta entered the game for the last ten minutes.

The Terriers finally found their moment in the 83rd minute. BU senior forward Morgan Fagan made an incredible solo run down the right flank where she delivered a perfect cross across the box and right into the run of freshman midfielder Olivia Avellar. Avellar easily finished the chance inserting it into the top half of the netting. The freshman stepped up in the biggest game of the season to score the biggest goal of the season.

“With the benches energy you can really feel like the whole team behind you on the field, and I think that’s what gives me the confidence to be able to finish in that final moment, even under pressure,” freshman midfielder Olivia Allevar said. “That’s just what we needed.”

Army attempted to find some offense to tie the match, but everywhere they looked a Terrier was sprinting right at them. BU had all of the momentum and energy they needed after taking the lead. They could see a first round bye right in front of them.

Burke said the Terriers put an emphasis on their high line and they consistently wanted to press Army defenders to create pressure. This was seen in both the goal and the final few minutes of the match. Army had no room to breathe.

The match ended with the LED lights flashing and the BU players celebrating on Nickerson field having secured a 1-0 win and a first round bye.

“The biggest thing in getting a bye is you get to recover,” Burke said. “We are gonna take advantage of it.”

The Terriers will play in the semi-finals of the Patriot League tournament next week on Thursday at Nickerson field. Their opponent has yet to be determined.