In its excitement to kick off the American East Conference, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team (5-4-1, 0-0-1 America East) found themselves visiting a national ranked opponent, No. 12 Boston University (7-2-1, 1-0-0 AE). The Seawolves were able to hold off the Terriers for the most part of game, until Boston’s Lauren Erwin scored the game’s lone goal in the 66th minute to lift the home side to a victory.
The Seawolves were able to force a 0-0 draw in the first half despite having fewer shots on goal. The Terriers created a couple dangerous threats, but goal keeper Marisa Viola (Mattituck, NY) made terrific saves to keep them off the scoreboard. The Seawolves had a good game plan by putting numbers in the back while seeking counter attack opportunities. However, sometimes you just cannot give up too many possessions.
The Terriers saw their attacking pressure pay off in the 66th minute off a right corner kick blasted by McClearnon toward the far post. Marissa Nucci (Hebron, CN) was there to deflect the ball away, but Erwin of the Terriers collected the rebound and put the ball in the lower right corner of the net. Overall the Seawolves played a good game, but just cannot get its offense going as it was out shot by 3-22.
The Seawolves hoped their middle fielders and the offense could pick up their intensity in the conference home opener against Binghamton the following Thursday night at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and were rewarded with a 1-0 win. Kate Collins’ game winning goal helped the Stony Brook women’s soccer team defeat its in-state rival Binghamton in the American East Conference home opener.
With the win, the Seawolves improve to 6-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in conferences games, while the Bearcats’ record fall to 3-6-2, 0-2-2 respectively. Early in the first half, Brooke Barbuto took control of the ball in the midfield, dribbling past three Bearcat players. Barbuto made a quick pass to Kristin Mishrell, who was running down the left side for the wing play.
Mishrell crossed the ball from deep in the left corner to Kate Collins whose left foot first-time volley screamed past the reach of the Bearcats’ goalkeeper and found the right side of the net. With that play, the Seawolves took the early lead 1-0. The Seawolves played good possession soccer throughout the game, out shooting the Bearcats 17-11.
Marisa Viola performed well as a keeper, earning her 4th clean sheet of the season as she made eight stops in the win for the Seawolves. Kristie Bowers, the Bearcats counterpart made six stops for the visitors. For the next game, the Seawolves will travel to Baltimore to play against UMBC on Sunday afternoon, October 1st at 1:00pm.
