Sept. 14, 2008

Box Score

BOSTON - Sophomore Lina Cords netted her first collegiate goal as the Boston University women's soccer team earned its third straight victory with a 1-0 triumph over cross-town rival Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at Nickerson Field. Sophomore Janie Reilly earned the shutout with three saves, including a spectacular diving stop with five minutes remaining in regulation. BU improves to 4-3 overall, while Northeastern falls to 3-2-1.

The game-winner came at 58:23 when senior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge stepped up to take a corner kick and sent a long cross into the six-yard box, which Cords rushed onto for the game's lone goal.

Reilly was not tested in the first half, but earned the shutout with three saves in the second stanza, including a crucial stop with less than five minutes to go when Northeastern's Gabbi Jatkola rocketed a shot to the far left corner. Reilly, leaping to her right, pushed the ball safely out of bounds to seal the victory.

In the first half, the Terriers' offense began to pressure the Huskies' defense with forward runs and dangerous crosses into the box after six minutes of action in the midfield. While BU was unable to put one in the back of the net, it was able to dominate possession in the offensive zone for the majority of the first stanza.

To start the second half, both teams came out quick with more end-to-end action. Cords broke the scoreless draw when she nailed a header into the back of the net off Schumacher-Hodge's corner.

Following the goal, BU continued to go forward and pressure the Huskies' defense, while also preventing Northeastern from gaining any momentum offensively with strong play from the backline. At 77:30, sophomore Corie Halasz nearly upped the lead to two, but her header ricocheted off the crossbar.

BU held an 11-6 advantage in shots and 6-3 edge in shots on goal, while also earning seven corner kicks to Northeastern's three.

BU will take part in the Minnesota Gold Classic, where it will face Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m.