WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Looking to become the first America East women's soccer team to reach the third round of the NCAA College Cup in 12 years, Boston University takes on top-seeded Wake Forest at the Demon Deacons' Spry Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
Boston U. (19-2-1), which won its fifth straight America East title in 2011, earned a trip to the second round for the third time by beating Harvard, 3-0, in first round action last weekend. The was America East's first tournament victory since the Terriers' win over UConn in 2005.
America East is
one of just just four non-FBS conferences to have a team win an NCAA
Women’s Soccer College Cup game this season. Boston University’s feat
was matched by Long Beach State of the Big West, Milwaukee of the
Horizon League and both Portland and San Diego of the West Coast
Conference.
Overall, America East teams have posted an 11-22 record in the NCAA tournament since the league started sponsoring women’s soccer in 1991. Hartford has won eight NCAA matches, while Boston U. recorded the other three victories, including this year, which was the league’s first NCAA win since 2005. Twice, teams have reached the tournament’s third round as Hartford accomplished the feat in 1998 and in 1999, when the Hawks made it all the way to the quarterfinals.
The Terriers, who have already set a new program standard for wins in a season with 19, have won 14 straight games and have outscored opponents 43-4 during the win streak. Ranked 14th in the latest NSCAA national poll, Boston U. is 10th nationally allowing just 0.495 goals per game and 17th scoring 2.45 goals per game, just one of four teams to rank in the top 15 of both categories.
Wake Forest (15-3-4), which reached the ACC final and tied Florida State before falling in penalty kicks, is one of the tournament's four No. 1 seeds. The Terriers and Demon Deacons met in the 2007 NCAA tournament with Wake pulling out a 2-1 victory.
The winner of Friday's contest will play the winner of Marquette and Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spry Stadium.