Corner Kicks Coming Along

by Tristan Hobbes

Zero for 21. That statistic represents the Boston University women’s soccer team's effectiveness on corner kicks so far this season. The Terriers have yet to score a goal off of a corner kick, but have allowed two crucial goals on the free cross this season.

"It's not like we have not had our chances," stated head coach Nancy Feldman on Tuesday. "I don’t like to chalk anything up to luck. You make your own luck."

While the Terriers have been unable to find the back of the net on a corner, Boston College and Loyola both victimized the Terriers last week. Last Wednesday, already leading 1-0, the Eagles sealed the victory when Chelsea Regan headed home a cross with just over ten minutes to play. Two days later, BU was on their way to a 1-0 victory on the road, but the Greyhounds were able to score the equalizer with one second remaining on a corner kick. Christina Gomez was able to find the ball after the scramble and beat the clock to tie the game.

Those are the type of goals that win team’s championships. Those are the type of goals that break the oppositions back. Those are the type of goals that coach Feldman knows her team needs to start scoring.

"Our attitude has to be hustle and bustle, make something happen," noted Feldman. "We have had some corners where it appeared we were not ready to pounce. We have to be ready to pounce. You are getting a free cross. If the first ball doesn’t get struck between the pipes and it is still hanging around in the box, 50-50 chance you should be getting a toe on it."

The Terriers have had their chances and, luck or no luck, they have not gone in. In that same Loyola game, sophomore midfielder Krista Minto ('12) headed the potential game-winner off the crossbar on a corner in the second overtime. Those, sophomore midfielder and corner kick specialist Jessica Luscinski ('12) says, "are going to come."

"It’s something that takes every single person being on the same page," said Luscinski ('12). "It’s coming. We are going to get it and once it all clicks it is going to be unstoppable."

BU can only hope that those words from Luscinski prove prophetic as the Terriers continue their grueling six-game road trip on Friday when they take on the University of Connecticut Huskies. Luscinski was the hero last year when she scored her first collegiate goal in the Terriers 1-0 upset victory over the 19th ranked Huskies.