Women's Soccer: By the Numbers

Overtime Victory Only the Beginning
by Tristan Hobbes

On Thursday night, the Boston University Terriers women’s soccer 2-1 overtime victory was punctuated by a huge numbers game. The 2-1 scored on tells a little of the story. Take a look at these numbers…

0-1-2: This number represents this year’s senior class against the Dartmouth Big Green. The seniors had never defeated the Big Green in their careers and senior co-captain Emily Pallotta ('10) made this apparent in the locker room before the game according to head coach Nancy Feldman.

“She said in the team room that this class had never beat Dartmouth. They really set their minds to knocking the Big Green off,” said Feldman of her captain’s comments before the game.

1: This number one represents the first time the Terriers had come back to win a game this season. Boston University has been unable to net the equalizer against Boston College and Northeastern, but Thursday night, junior midfielder Shauna Kelleher’s ('11) goal in the 59th minute set the stage for Pallotta’s ('10) game winner two minutes into overtime.

“Coming back against a team that is that tough, to get back to .500, took a lot of mental courage,” said Feldman after her team’s dramatic win.

1: This number one represents the first goal that Pallotta has scored this year. Adjusting to a defensive role in the midfield, Pallotta had just one assist to her credit through nine games. The senior has worked her butt off day in and day out and the work paid off tonight. Fellow senior and co-captain Mara Osher ('10) gave Pallotta a beautiful ball and the gutsy mid-fielder directed into the back of the net for the game-winner.

“Adjusting to a new role, new shape in the midfield,” said Pallotta of her scoreless drought. “I’m happy to get one and hopefully they come in buckets. Being a senior and a captain, there obviously are expectations. I want to do the most I can to help this team win and goals definitely help.”

4: The number four represents the consecutive home victories for the Terriers this season. Thanks to Thursday’s come-from-behind victory, BU is now a perfect 4-0-0 at home. Thursday, the Terriers gave up their first goal at home on the year, but battled back to tie the game in the second half before Pallotta scored the golden goal in overtime. It also marks the first time that freshman midfielder Megan McGoldrick ('13) has not recorded a point in a Terriers win.

9-25-06: This is the last time the Terriers won a game in overtime. It also happens to be my birthday and Thursday night was nearly three years to the day. BU defeated Yale 2-1 in overtime on the 25th of September in 2006. Then senior forward Farrell McClernon ('10) netted the game-winner in overtime. Thursday’s win in overtime against Dartmouth puts the Terriers at .500 (4-4-2) heading into America East play.