Courtesy: Boston University Athletics Communications
NEWTON, Mass. -- The Boston University women’s soccer team’s 2009 season came to an end on Friday night as the squad dropped a 1-0 decision to Connecticut (11-7-2) in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terriers finish their season with a 14-6-2 overall record, while the Huskies advance to Sunday’s second-round match-up with Boston College (16-3-2).
Senior Farrell McClernon had a strong showing on the offensive front with six shots and three on frame, while classmate Taleen Dimirdjian and sophomore Jessica Luscinski recorded three. Senior Janie Reilly made seven saves in net, which included a spectacular goal line stop in the first half. BU outshot UConn, 18-12, while the Huskies held the 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
After nearly 110 minutes of scoreless action, the Huskies put the game away when Brittany Taylor brought the ball in from outside the 18-yard box and fired off a hard shot that bent towards the upper right side for the game-winning goal with 1:26 remaining.
In the first half, UConn’s Lauren Ebert ripped a shot to the far right side in the 41st minute that was initially hard for Reilly to handle, but the senior goalkeeper got enough of a hand on it to save it right on the goal line. The stop kept the game scoreless going into halftime. At the break, BU maintained a 7-4 advantage in shots with Dimirdjian, Luscinski and McClernon each recording two. Reilly made two saves in the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, McClernon had Boston U’s best opportunity as her shot attempt skimmed just wide right of the net. In the 60th minute, McClernon again rocketed a point-blank shot at UConn’s Ally Mancino, but the keeper came up with an instant reaction save that pushed the ball out of bounds.
Over the next 10 minutes, the Terriers and Huskies battled back-and-forth with much of the action occurring in the midfield. With under 10 minutes to go, UConn’s Melissa Busque unleashed a shot for the far right side, but Reilly made a diving stop to her left to maintain the deadlock.
With just over a minute remaining in the second half, BU drew a foul 20-yards out and Luscinski stepped up to take the free kick. Luscinski sent the ball into the box, which senior Casey Brown got a head on; however, the ball sailed wide, sending the game into overtime for the second time this year between the two teams and third overall in the series history.
In overtime, BU controlled the ball; however, it was unable to get shot on net. With just over four minutes remaining in the second overtime UConn’s Linda Ruutu had her shot attempt blocked and on the ensuing rebound Elise Fugowski placed one on net, however, Reilly came up with the stop.
With three minutes remaining, senior Mara Osher came up with a crucial block on Fugowski’s shot inside the 18-yard box and on the next two plays, UConn drew two corner kicks as it began to apply more pressure on the Terriers’ backline. The defense withstood the onslaught as it finally got the ball out of the defensive end until Brittany Taylor put the game away with a long, hard shot to the upper right side with 1:26 left in overtime.