Three-Peat for Terriers

by Tristan Hobbes

The Boston University women’s soccer team received goals from four different players and allowed just two shots on net as they blanked the Binghamton Bearcats, 4-0, to claim their third consecutive America East Tournament Championship Saturday at Nickerson Field.

It is BU’s seventh title overall and gives the Terriers an automatic bid to their fifth straight NCAA tournament.  The pairings will be announced Monday night at 8 p.m. on ESPNNews.  Senior Farrell McClernon (’10) was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player as she collected four points (1g, 2a) in two tournament games. 

Saturday, Binghamton controlled the run of play in the opening minutes of the game but a free kick from 30 yards out gave BU their chance.  Sophomore Jessica Luscinski (’12) stood five yards behind the ball, checked her options and then began her approach.  Luscinski connected beautifully and sent a sweet strike past a diving Jen McEachron and inside the left post to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead ten and a half minutes in.

“It was central enough for me to just take the shot and I’ve been practicing those shots and I made the shot,” said Luscinski of her 30 yard strike.

The stingy BU defense took over and limited the Bearcat offense to 2 second half shots while the Terriers dynamic offense peppered the Bearcat net with 14 of their own.  In all the Terriers tickled the twine three times in the second half.  Senior Taleen Dimirdjian (’10) picked up her fourth goal of the year, third against Binghamton, in the 50^th minute and freshman Megan McGoldrick (’13) and McClernon (’10) scored five minutes apart late in the game to close the door. 

Senior Janie Reilly was called on to make two first half saves but saw none of the action in the second half.  Reilly was replaced by sophomore Annie Tooley with five minutes to play and was not tested either as the Terriers picked up their 12^th shutout of the season. 

After an auspicious 2-4-2 start, BU has gone 12-1-0 in their last thirteen games.  The only loss came against Stony Brook on Oct. 16^th.  Nine of the 12 wins have come via the shutout.

“I think experience in the moment and in preparation in how you get ready.  Your confidence, I think it makes a big difference,” head coach Nancy Feldman said of her team’s veteran laden lineup.

BU will now search for their first NCAA tournament victory since upsetting the University of Connecticut in 2005.