BOSTON - Boston University broke a scoreless deadlock with a pair of goals in the span of two minutes midway through the second half and held off a late charge from Stony Brook University to capture the 2008 America East Women's Soccer Championship on Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field. The Terriers, who have won back-to-back titles and six of the last nine overall, earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. It will be their fourth straight trip to the tournament and seventh in nine years.
The first half was very physical as the two teams combined for 14 fouls in the opening frame. Stony Brook (11-8-0) recorded two shots but never really threatened in the first half. Boston University (15-5-1) almost broke through in the first stanza, but Stony Brook goalkeeper Marisa Viola, the America East Goalkeeper of the Year, made six of her 11 saves, several of them spectacular. The Terriers' best chance came when All-Rookie choice Jessica Luscinski crossed the ball into the box and Farrell McClernon got off a shot, but Viola made the save. With 13 minutes left, Marisha Schumacher-Hodge, who controlled the midfield before leaving due to injury midway through the second half, drove the ball on goal, but Stony Brook defender Debbie Aller deflected it and Viola was there to make the save.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Schumacher Hodge served the ball from the left side to Defender of the Year Casey Brown, whose shot just cleared the crossbar. The Terriers finally broke through with 18:37 left in regulation. Corie Halasz took a pass from Farrell McClernon, weaved into the box from 30 yards out and beat Viola to the short side, striking the ball off the inside of the post and into the net.
Boston U. added to its lead just 1:50 later. Halasz sent the ball into the box from the left and found McClernon, who could not get off a shot and instead passed it brilliantly behind her to first-team all-conference selection Mara Osher, who was all alone inside the box and blasted the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.
The Seawolves continued to battle and were able to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 2:09 remaining. Freshman Dominique Adamo scored her first career goal, taking a cross from Holly Razzaghi and burying the ball in the top right-hand corner from 20 yards out.
The Terriers held Stony Brook without a shot for the remaining 2:10 to retain the title and remain unbeaten in their last 15 games against conference opponents (14-0-1) dating back to last season. The win also gave head coach Nancy Feldman her sixth America East championship, which surpassed former Hartford coach Austin Daniels as the all-time leader in league history.
Schumacher-Hodge, the Midfielder and Fans' Choice Player of the Year as well as a first-team all-conference choice, added to her hardware, garnering Most Outstanding Player honors. Joining Schumacher-Hodge on the All-Championship team are teammates Brown, Halasz and Elizabeth Speck, Stony Brook's Brooke Barbuto, Kate Collins and Trine Allenberg, Binghamton's Jen Abbate and Mary DeWitte, Maine's Kim Stephenson and Jasmine Phillips, Hartford's Laura Guigli and New Hampshire's Julie O'Shaughnessy.
Boston University will learn their destination for their NCAA first-round contest on Monday at approximately 8 p.m. on ESPNews. Stay tuned to AmericaEast.com for complete coverage on the Terriers' NCAA run and more from Saturday's championship game, including archived video and a photo gallery.
All-Championship Team
Casey Brown, Boston University
Corie Halasz, Boston University
Kate Speck, Boston University
Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (Most Outstanding Player)
Trine Allenberg, Stony Brook
Brooke Barbuto, Stony Brook
Kate Collins, Stony Brook
Jen Abbate, Binghamton
Mary Dewitte, Binghamton
Kim Stephenson, Maine
Jasmine Phillips, Maine
Laura Guigli, Hartford
Julie O'Shaughnessy, New Hampshire
2008 America East Women's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals - Thursday, October 30
No. 6 Binghamton 1, at New Hampshire 0
No. 5 Maine 1, at No. 4 Hartford 1
Maine advances on penalty kicks, 5-4
Semifinals - Sunday, November 2
at No. 1 Boston University 1, Maine 0
at No. 2 Stony Brook, Binghamton 0
Finals - Saturday, November 8
at Boston University 2, Stony Brook 1
