Women’s Soccer: No. 1 BU Seeks Second Straight Patriot League Championship Against No. 3 Army
By Matthew Wuschke
Boston University Women’s Soccer (10-4-3, 7-1-1 PL) are one win away from a Patriot League championship. After a resounding 4-0 semifinal win against Lafayette on Thursday, the Terriers will face Army West Point (12-5-2, 5-3-1 PL) on Sunday.
While the Terriers enter the championship as the top seed, the Black Knights come in as the No. 3 seed.
The Terriers are on a hot streak against the Black Knights, winning their last three matchups along with holding a 12-3-2 record all time. The last time the two matched up was Oct. 1, where BU won 3-2.
BU is entering their second straight Patriot League championship game and looking to replicate their success last year, where they defeated Bucknell in a penalty shootout, 8-7. The Terriers knocked off Army West Point in last year’s tournament, winning 2-1 in double overtime.
The Terriers’ offense has been proving itself to be strong. In Thursday’s game against the Lafayette Leopards, BU was led to victory by junior forward Ava Maguire, who scored two goals off of four shots on goal. Senior midfielder Giulianna Gianino also had a major role in the match, notching three assists. Sophomore forward Juliana Osterman and senior forward Margy Porta each had a goal as well.
Fatigue could play a role in the championship match, as BU has only played one game after their first round bye. Army, on the other hand, is heading into their third matchup.
The Black Knights are not a team to take lightly and bodes an entertaining matchup. Army is led by senior midfielder and forward Bridgid Duffy, who has 29 points with 14 goals and one assist. Forward Sophia Henry — with 20 points, nine goals and two assists — powers the offense.
Both Duffy and Henry have already made their impact this playoffs, scoring a combined three of Army’s five goals — Duffy with two and Henry with one.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. on Nickerson Field and will be available to watch on CBS Sports Network.