Sep 1, 2013
Box Score | Postgame Comments: Clemens
BOSTON - Paced by a shutout from junior goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi in her first career start, the Boston University women's soccer team defeated Northwestern, 2-0, Sunday night at Nickerson Field. Senior Madison Clemens and junior Ana Cuffia scored goals for the Terriers, as BU improved its record to 2-1-1.
Parisi, playing in just the third game of her career, earned the nod for the Terriers and turned away all three shots that she faced to earn her first full-game shutout.
Clemens, the Patriot League's preseason Offensive Player of the Year, scored her first goal of the season against the Wildcats with an assist from classmate Kylie Strom in the first half. Cuffia also netted her first tally of the year with help from sophomore Clare Pleuler, who recorded her first career assist.
Both teams entered the game coming off double-overtime draws on Friday night, as BU battled to a 0-0 draw with No. 11 South Carolina on Friday evening while Northwestern tied Northeastern, 1-1. The loss tonight drops the Wildcats' record to 0-2-1 on the season.
Northwestern tested Parisi early, as Nicole Jewell recorded a shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the junior was there to make the save.
The Terriers got on the board in the 17th minute with a strike from Clemens. Cuffia took the ball down the near sideline and sent a pass into the box to Strom. The senior eluded a defender before passing the ball to Clemens who beat Wildcats' goalkeeper Jenna Hascher to the corner of the net to give BU the 1-0 lead.
Freshman Erica Kosienski nearly netted her first career goal in the 34th minute following a corner kick for the Terriers. Strom took the kick for BU and delivered it to the right side of the box. Hascher fell down trying to get the ball, leaving a wide-open shot for Kosienski who sent the ball wide to the right.
Northwestern's best chance in the opening half came in the 39th minute with a scrum in front of the net. With Parisi playing up in the box, Maria Grygleski fired a shot on goal that Parisi got a hand on before the ball bounced off the near post. Northwestern got off another attempt on the rebound but the Terriers' defense was there to save the shot and preserve their 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
BU came out and dominated the second half, limiting Northwestern to just one shot attempt in the final 45 minutes. The Terriers added to their lead in the 69th minute with Cuffia's first goal of the season. Pleuler had the ball on the far sideline and sent a crossing pass into the right side of the box where Cuffia was able to get off a header shot past Hascher and put the Terriers on top, 2-0.
BU controlled the pace for the remainder of the game and did not allow another shot attempt for the Wildcats to secure the 2-0 victory.
The Terriers outshot the Wildcats on the night, 9-4, while each team placed four shots on goal. BU also held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Next up for the Terriers is a two-game road swing starting at No. 9 Penn State on Friday (Sept. 6). First kick is set for 7 p.m.
