{"id":44560,"date":"2024-11-07T21:42:38","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T02:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/?p=44560"},"modified":"2024-11-07T21:43:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T02:43:05","slug":"womens-soccer-bus-magical-season-continues-with-a-sudden-death-victory-against-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/2024\/11\/07\/womens-soccer-bus-magical-season-continues-with-a-sudden-death-victory-against-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s Soccer: BU\u2019s Magical Season Continues With a Sudden Death Victory Against Army"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Finley Rogan<\/em><\/p>\n

The Boston University Terriers (6-7-5, 6-0-4 PL) defeated the Army Black Knights (11-6-1, 5-4-1 PL) 2-1 in overtime in the Patriot League tournament semifinals on Thursday night at Nickerson Field. The victory sends BU to the Patriot League final for the first time since 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just played with so much heart and pride, and they really showed what BU soccer is all about,\u201d assistant coach Megan Burke said.<\/p>\n

Army, the third seed in the tournament, defeated sixth-seeded Navy on Sunday 1-0 to secure a berth to the next round. The two-seeded Terriers had a bye in the first round of the tournament as they finished in one of the top two spots in the regular season table.<\/p>\n

The game was an immediate rematch for the Terriers who defeated Army 1-0 in their regular season finale last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

BU came out with their traditional white uniforms while Army wore their alternate camouflage jerseys.<\/p>\n

Army was sure to be a daunting defensive opponent as they allowed less than one goal per game throughout the season. Meanwhile, the Terriers hoped to replicate their performance against the Black Knights last week as they controlled possession, held a clean sheet, and managed to sneak one goal past the elite gloves of Army senior goalkeeper Sage Strohman.<\/p>\n

The Terriers found a ton of success pressing against Army in possession last week so it was no surprise when they came out with more of the same when out of possession.<\/p>\n

Controversy wasted no time sneaking its way into the matchup as Terrier junior forward Margy Porta went to ground in the box after it appeared she was pushed in the back. The referee however was not convinced it was a penalty and play continued.<\/p>\n

BU junior forward Margy Porta registered the first great chance of the game in the 17th minute after a spectacular turn and run from senior forward Morgan Fagan, unfortunately for the Terriers, the shot went just high of the crossbar.<\/p>\n

In the 25th minute, Army was able to break past the BU defense setting up a rocket of a shot from sophomore midfielder Sabrina Rogers. BU freshman goalie Bridget Carr leaped up and was able to get a hand on the ball, deflecting it over for a Black Knight corner which the Terriers were able to defend, setting up an eventual goal kick.<\/p>\n

Army continued to build up by playing the long ball and searching for chaos. Meanwhile, the Terriers continuously played the Ball wide to senior forward Morgan Fagan seeking an attack on the right flank.<\/p>\n

In the 29th minute, Army was gifted a penalty after junior midfielder Brigid Duffy was taken down in the box. The penalty was successfully converted by senior midfielder Kaelan Bradley to see the Black Knights ahead 1-0.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re a really tough defensive team, and we knew that coming into it, so to score one goal on them is really hard, but to score two is even harder,\u201d Burke said.<\/p>\n

BU now faced a real uphill battle as they would need an equalizer against an Army squad who had allowed just one goal in their previous five matches.<\/p>\n

After allowing the goal the Terriers had a plethora of attacks as the minutes waned down in the first half. Although they did not generate a real quality chance, the Terriers showed their intent and continued to press hard in the Army half hoping to generate a mistake.<\/p>\n

Army led 1-0 after the first 45 minutes of play. BU had three shots on goal in the first half while Army had two.<\/p>\n

The Terriers quickly showed their second-half intent with a run from senior forward Morgan Fagan down the flank who played a nice cross into the box. Terrier junior midfielder Mackenzie Stickelman was able to get her head on the ball but the chance went just high and wide of the net.<\/p>\n

The Terriers really struggled to generate any real chances early on in the second half. They consistently gained possession but were never able to generate a real opportunity against Army\u2019s lockdown defense.<\/p>\n

As the 65th minute approached, the Terriers were searching for answers.<\/p>\n

BU finally got their equalizer in the 68th minute. Once again senior forward Morgan Fagan had an electric run down the right flank where she played a great ball right into the feet of junior forward Giulianna Gianino who had her shot blocked. Luckily for the Terriers, the rebound found itself right in front of Morgan Fagan who slotted it home to tie the game at one all.<\/p>\n

\u201cMorgs is such a threat with her pace and just her ability on the ball, and so any back line is afraid of her,\u201d Burke said.<\/p>\n

As the clock ticked down on the second half, a sudden death overtime period loomed. Both squads continued to play intense soccer and it seemed one minute mistake could cost either their season.<\/p>\n

After 90 minutes of play could not separate either team, the game entered sudden death overtime. There would be two ten-minute overtime periods and if necessary, penalty kicks.<\/p>\n

Just two minutes into overtime Terrier sophomore forward Kat Slott had an attempt but it bounced off the post. BU was so close.<\/p>\n

Through the first period of sudden death overtime, the game remained tied and the notion of a penalty shootout became more likely.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for the Terriers, junior forward Giulianna Gianino had to exit the match due to injury with just four minutes remaining in the second overtime period.<\/p>\n

BU had one final chance with under two minutes left in overtime. Senior forward Morgan Fagan was once again able to get past the Army defense and she was once again able to play a spectacular ball in that proceeded to bounce around the box. Eventually, junior forward Margy Porta was able to find it and produce an electric game-winning strike to send the Terriers through to the Patriot League final.<\/p>\n

The LED lights flashed and the Terriers stormed the field to celebrate with their star Margy Porta.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pure shock and happiness,\u201d junior forward Margy Porta said. \u201cBeing celebrated by my teammates and with my teammates is the best feeling in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was the third goal in the past two games created by senior forward Morgan Fagan making a run down the right side of the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe stampedes everyone and she\u2019s scary to play against,\u201d Porta said. \u201cWhenever we can get the ball to Morgan, good things are gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

In what has been a magical season for BU, they found a magical way for it to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have a togetherness on this team that sets us apart,\u201d Porta said. \u201cNow we get to go to a championship together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Terriers will travel to Lewisburg Pennsylvania to take on the Bucknell Bison in the Patriot League Final Sunday at 12:30 pm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love Lewisburg,\u201d Burke said. \u201cWe\u2019re just ready to get after this Patriot League Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Finley Rogan The Boston University Terriers (6-7-5, 6-0-4 PL) defeated the Army Black Knights (11-6-1, 5-4-1 PL) 2-1 in overtime in the Patriot League tournament semifinals on Thursday night at Nickerson Field. The victory sends BU to the Patriot League final for the first time since 2021. \u201cThey just played with so much heart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21478,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19,1039,1043],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44560"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21478"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44561,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44560\/revisions\/44561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}