Sophomore Katie Smurthwaite scored her first goal of the season in the second overtime as Boston University defeated Delaware, 1-0, at Nickerson Field to advance to the America East Championship game. The top-seeded Terriers will meet second-seeded Hartford, a 1-0 winner over Hofstra in three overtimes in the other semifinal, on Sunday at 12 noon at Nickerson Field.
Senior Teresa Petruccelli’s throw in from the left sideline found Suzanne Hudak, who centered a the ball into the center of the box. Smurthwaite headed the bouning pass into the right side at 106:16 to set up a rematch of last season’s America East Championship when the Terriers defeated the Hawks 4-1 at Hartford.
The Terriers, 13-5-1, enjoyed a 31-4 edge in shots, but could not beat Blue Hen goalkeeper Andera Lunn, who made 11 saves, until the second overtime.
The Terriers had appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of the game, but Megan Cross was offside negating her goal. The Terriers also had a shot hit both posts and another hit the crossbar in the 11th minute.
The Terriers had another stong scoring chance as time ran out in the first overtime when Rebecca Beyer broke in all alone. But Beyer had to hurrry a contested shot as time expired and the ball rolled to the right of Lunn.
Jessica Clinton made one save in the Terrier net.
The Blue Hens, who advanced to the America East semifinals with a 1-0 win over New Hamsphire at Newark, Del. Tuesday, conclude their season at 11-8-1.
Sophomore Jeanette Akerlund scored in the third overtime as Hartford defeated Hofstra, 1-0, in the America East Women’s Soccer Championship semifinals at Nickerson Field.
Akerlund collected an errant clear by the Hofstra defense and blasted a 15-yarder into the upper right corner off the hands of goalkeepr Kristine Winchester at 128:10. It was Akerlund’s 10th goal of the season, which ties her for the team lead.
Second-seeded Hartford controlled play, out-shooting the Pride, 42-9. The Hawks had a chance to win it at the end of the second overtime when Tini Lyng had two shots in the final 10 seconds, one turned away by Winchester, who had 10 saves, and the other stopped by a Pride defender.
Anne-Lise Nilssen had five saves for the Hawks.
The third-seeded Pride, 8-8-3, had advanced to the America East semifinals by virtue of a penalty kick decision in its first-round game with Towson. Hofstra and Towson played to a scoreless tie through four overtimes, before the Pride won 4-2 in penalty kicks.
Boston University 1, Delaware 0 (2OT)
Shots: Delaware 4, Boston University 31
Corner Kicks: Delaware 7, Boston University 7
Saves: Delaware (Andrea Lunn, 11); Boston University (Jessica Clinton, 1)
SCORING
Katie Smuthwaite (Teresa Petruccelli) 106:13
Hartford 1, Hofstra 0 (3OT)
Shots: Hofstra 9, Hartford 42
Corner Kicks: Hofstra 4, Hartford 12
Saves: Kristine Winchester, Hofstra 10; Anne-Lise Nilssen, Hartford 5
SCORING
Jeanette Akerlund (unassisted) 128:10