The Boston University women’s soccer team went into this weekend’s Rutgers DoubleTree Classic looking for at least one win to reach its stated goal of getting through its season-opening stretch of five away games with a plus-.500 record.
Unfortunately for the Terriers, .500 will have to do.
但系圣约翰University, 1-1, yesterday, and lost, 3-0, to Rutgers University on Friday, bringing its record to 2-2-1.
In yesterday’s game against the Red Storm, senior midfielder Allison Merkle converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute after freshman midfielder Brooke Bingham was fouled in the box to give the Terriers a short lived 1-0 lead. St. John’s came back with the equalizer 10 minutes later as Kaitlin Schmidt scored her seventh goal of this season.
“For them to tie the game up with 13 minutes to go was discouraging,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman.
Junior goalkeeper Jessica Clinton made eight saves, including one in overtime for the Terriers.
“We all were disappointed with the result,” Feldman said. “Our expectations are high. We go into every game thinking we can win. No one on our schedule is far above us.”
On Friday, the Terriers found themselves in an early hole when Shannon Evans beat Clinton in the 12th minute.
Carli Lloyd scored her fourth goal of the year in the 58th minute to give the Scarlet Knights a 2-0 lead, and then Adrienne Dugandzic iced the game with her 68th minute strike.
Clinton made three saves for BU.
Despite the lopsided score, Feldman was happy with the team’s performance against Rutgers.
“Friday night was unfortunate,” Feldman said. “They had counters and they buried them, and we were possessing but not penetrating. The score was not indicative”
Feldman said she is especially pleased with the way her backline and midfield are gelling, while adding that getting the ball to the forwards has been a concern.
Injuries are also something that have become an issue at BU. Junior midfielder Rebecca Beyer was hurt against Rutgers and missed yesterday’s contest, and sophomore forward Melissa Shulman is likely to be redshirted for this season, leaving the team very young and thin in the attack.
Despite the Terriers’ not achieving their preseason goal, Feldman saw some positives that can provide a foundation for a solid season.
“I’m happy where we’re at, if we can keep building,” Feldman said. “I think there were a lot of good things.”
Merkle and junior back Lesley Garvey earned All-Tournament honors for their play over the weekend.
BU now returns to Nickerson Field and will face America East rival the University of Maine in its home opener on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
