Women’s Soccer: BU, Raiders to Meet in High-stakes Patriot League Showdown
By Kaan Oguz
Boston University Women’s Soccer (9-4-3, 6-1-1 PL) will close its regular season Wednesday night with a top-of-the-table showdown against the Colgate Raiders (9-4-4, 6-1-1 PL) at Nickerson Field.
At 19 points each, both sides enter the matchup tied for first place in the Patriot League, after setting the pace across the conference throughout the season. This matchup is one of the season’s most significant — a victory would secure the home-field advantage in the Patriot League Tournament, the No. 1 tournament seed on the line.
BU is entering the match in peak form, riding a six-game win streak — five of which were clean sheets. During that stretch, the Terriers outscored opponents 22-2, with Giuliana Gianino leading the offense. The senior midfielder shines in the league at a total of seven goals and 11 assists. Ranking first in assists, Gianino has already been involved in more than half the Terriers’ total goals.
Contributing to the dominating offense, senior midfielder Mackenzie Stickelman has added eight goal contributions — seven goals and an assist. Sophomore midfielder Olivia Avellar and senior forward Margy Porta have become consistent threats in offense.
The Terriers’ backline has delivered one of the conference’s most disciplined defensive efforts. The Terriers have conceded just 17 goals in 16 matches, the second-fewest in the league.
Goalkeepers Bridget Carr and Susan Shobeiri have combined for a .702 save percentage with eight total clean sheets. Seven of those clean sheets came in BU’s last nine games. Carr leads the tandem with six wins and a 0.57 goals-against average, while Shobeiri has posted three clean sheets across 10 starts.
That defensive steadiness — paired with Gianino’s excellent performance and Stickelman’s goal scoring — has turned BU into one of the league’s most complete teams heading into the post-season.
On the other side of the tuft will be Colgate, arriving in Boston with equally strong momentum as the Terriers. The Raiders are unbeaten in their last four matches and scored a total of 12 goals this month.
Midfielder Ari Bezanson ranks among the Patriot League’s top three in shots on goal totaling eight goal contributions. Alongside Bezanson is forward Josie Tunney, who has recorded six goals and two assists. Forward Ana Schremp provides the creative link between lines with five assists while also scoring three goals.
Keeping the Raiders’ net empty is goalkeeper Ella Poppinga, who has been one of the conference’s most reliable shot-stoppers. With 17 starts, Poppinga has recorded four clean sheets with a .786 save percentage in the season.
Between Colgate and BU, the Terriers lead the all-time series, including last season’s 3-2 win in Hamilton. Since 2021, every matchup has been a close game — decided by a single goal.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with streaming available on ESPN+.