Terriers Face New Hampshire in AE Championship Showdown on Saturday
November 8, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 8, 2007
BOSTON - The second-seeded Boston University women's soccer team travels to No. 1 New Hampshire for the America East Conference championship game on Saturday, Nov. 10 at noon at UNH's Bremner Field. The Terriers enter the match with an 11-6-3 record, while the Wildcats are 11-6-2.
AMERICA EAST POSTSEASON HISTORY: In 13 years as a varsity program, BU has won five America East Championships, including three of the last six titles, and is 9-4-2 in post-season conference action. Last year, the Terriers were eliminated in the first round in heart-breaking fashion. After battling Maine to a scoreless draw, the Black Bears advanced via penalty kicks, 2-0.
Saturday's game will mark fourth time BU and UNH have met in the conference postseason. The Terriers are 2-1-0 against the Wildcats in the America East tourney, and have not met in a championship game.
SERIES HISTORY: UNH is one of the Terriers longest standing rivals. Along with Maine and Hartford, BU has faced UNH 15 times in the program's 13-year history. Over the past five years, the Terriers have not lost a game to the Wildcats, going 6-0-1. BU is 4-1-1 all-time in Durham, N.H. This season, BU and UNH battled through 110 minutes to a scoreless draw on Oct. 25 in New Hampshire.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: UNH advanced to Saturday's championship game backed by a two-goal effort from AE Striker of the Year Michelle Sheehan. Sheehan netted the game's first goal in the 77th minute and scored the game-winner six minutes into overtime. Ally Yost made three saves in the victory. Sheehan has scored a conference-leading 11 goals this season and has added two assists. Caitlin Whelan has also had a prolific year with five goals and seven assists for 17 points.
In net, Yost has shared time with Nikki Golding, who started in 10 games this season. Yost has been the goalkeeper on record recently and owns a 0.87 GAA and .820 save percentage. UNH has outscored its opponents, 29-16, and have shut out eight opponents.
LAST TIME OUT: BU advanced to the title game with its 2-0 victory over Binghamton last Sunday afternoon. Junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge netted the game-winning goal and sophomore Casey Brown notched her fifth goal of the season to give the Terriers the two-goal win. Senior Christina Reuter made two stops in net for her fifth shutout of the season. The Terriers out-shot the Bearcats, 15-11, and put eight shots on goal. Binghamton held the 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
LAST TIME VERSUS UNH: In a clash of the top two teams in the America East Conference, BU and UNH battled through 110 minutes of scoreless action on Oct. 25 in Durham, N.H. Senior Christina Reuter made eight saves in net, including a leaping save in the waning minutes of regulation, to record her fourth shutout of the season.
TERRIERS' SET PIECES: The Terriers have been dangerous all season long on their set pieces. Whether it is a corner kick or a free kick, BU has put itself in a position to score each time. Junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge has been BU's corner kick specialist and has been a threat with her long passes and accuracy from the corner flag. She has assisted on three goals off her corner kicks, connecting with sophomore Casey Brown each time (Albany, Oct. 4; Maine, Oct. 11; Binghamton, Oct. 28) and netted an unassisted goal of her own off a restart outside the 18-yard box against Binghamton on Oct. 28. Sophomore Mara Osher stepped in to take over the corner kicks duties for Schumacher-Hodge at Stony Brook and recorded two assists from the corner flag. Freshman Lina Cords has also provided heroics off set pieces, recording the game-winning assist against Princeton.
HOLD THE LINE: A strong defense has be a hallmark for BU over the past two seasons. This year the back line has stuck with that trademark stinginess, allowing no more than two goals in a single game, and allowing multiple goals only once to No. 5 Stanford in the season opener. Since that game on Aug. 31., BU has allowed just nine goals in 18 games and shutout nine opponents - six in conference action. BU has shut down opponents' offense for 413:13 consecutive minutes, dating back to Oct. 18 vs. Hartford. The Terriers' shutout percentage ranks 30th in the country (0.52).
TERRIERS IN THE NATIONAL RANKS: Christina Reuter currently ranks first in the nation in save percentage (.904) and 15th in goals-against average (0.52). As a team, the Terriers are first in save percentage (.907) and ninth in GAA (0.506).
