Terriers Blank Central Connecticut In Women's Soccer, 2-0
October 11, 2000 | Women's Soccer
BOSTON (Oct. 11) - Nicole Soules and Mary-Beth Magner each scored goals and the Terrier women's soccer team notched its school record-tying sixth straight win en route to a 2-0 shutout of Central Connecticut State University at Nickerson Field on Oct. 11.
Now in its sixth year as a varsity sport, B.U. has put together a string of six consecutive victories just once, and that came in the opening six games of the 1996 season. That year, the Terriers went on to post a 14-4-0 record.
After opening this season with just one win in its first four decisions, B.U. 7-1 in its last eight to improve its overall record to 8-4-0.
What's more, with Wednesday night's shutout, the Terriers have blanked three of their last four opponents and four of their last six. During their six-game winning streak, B.U. has outscored its opponents, 15-2.
Soules scored what proved to be the only goal the Terriers would need at 32:12 when she was set up in close on a crossing pass by Hudak.
The score remained 1-0 through the rest of the first half although the Terriers dominated the statistics, outshooting the Blue Devils, 10-2, and holding the edge in corner kicks, 4-1.
B.U. did pose a number of threats in the first half, the most notable coming with 3:40 to play when Deidre Enos had a header from about 10 yards out but was stopped by Central Connecticut goalkeeper Vanessa Valentin.
Ironically, prior to the game, Enos was presented with the ball in which she notched her 101st career point. The first woman soccer player in B.U. history to go over the 100-point mark for her career, Enos reached that plateau in the Oct. 4 3-1 win over Fairfield. To mark that accomplishment, Terrier head coach Nancy Feldman presented Enos with the ball prior to the Central Connecticut game.
Enos was blanked in the game, only the fourth time in 12 games this year in which she has not scored at least point.
Then, in the second half, Magner drilled a shot from about 30 yards out that went to the far right hand corner of the goal as it eluded Valentin's leap.
"That was a huge goal for us," said Feldman. "Instead of leading by just one goal, it gave us a two-goal lead and that was a big difference especially the way we were playing defense."
"I brought the ball up through the middle," Magner said of her goal. "I saw there was some open space so I brought the ball up more and took the shot."
"This was a great win for us tonight," said Feldman. "I was pleased with how organized we were at back, and I thought we handled their pace very well.
"Plus, it was also great to see players other than 'D' (Deidre Enos) do our scoring. That really raises our confidence level."
"I think we are playing very confidently," said Magner. "We started the season slowly, but the younger players have been coming along and they understand their roles and our system.
"We are now playing as a unit and you can see the difference in our confidence."
The Terriers begin a tough stretch of games beginning on Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m. with a home match against Northeastern, which is one of the most improved teams in America East.
"We have six games in the next 14 days and seven games in the next 16," pointed out the coach. "But, we are entering this stretch playing well. The defense is intact and a number of players are scoring for us."
Scoring
Central Connecticut 0 0 - 0 Boston University 1 1 - 2
B.U.: Nicole Soules (Suzanne Hudak), 32:12; Mary-Beth Magner (unassisted), 52:31
Shots: B.U., 21; Central Connecticut, 5
Saves: Jessica Clinton, B.U., 0; Vanessa Valentin, CCSU, 4
Corner Kicks: B.U., 10; CCSU, 4
