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BOSTON - Converting on a pair of second-half free kick attempts, the two-time defending Patriot League champion Boston University women's soccer team advanced past Loyola Maryland, 2-1, in the conference semifinals on Friday night at Nickerson Field.

With their sixth straight victory, the Terriers improve to 11-5-3 and are now a perfect 3-of-3 in reaching the PL Final since joining the conference in the summer of 2013. The Greyhounds end their season at 6-10-2 after becoming the first opponent to score on BU in 534 minutes.

Rachel Bloznalis struck first with a free kick from midfield in the 57th minute, but Loyola came right back two minutes later with Nicole Wahlig's header off Rosy Haye's corner kick. The game remained a 1-1 deadlock until Jenna Fisher poked in a rebound resulting from Clare Pleuler's free kick attempt in the 84th minute.

Both teams put on the offensive pressure throughout the first half but only BU was able to get attempts on net, both of which were saved by Loyola. Defensive efforts on both ends dictated play and halftime came without a score.

The second half started fast for both BU and Loyola, as the Greyhounds put their first shot on goal in the opening minutes on a free kick that Alyssa Parisi stopped in the nick of time for her lone save of the contest. Loyola made another try soon after, this time off of a set piece just outside of the box that Bloznalis cleared in order to prevent the dangerous ball from finding any feet. 

Bloznalis would use a free kick of her own to break the scoreless game, as she shot the ball from just inside the midfield line that carried over goalkeeper Colleen Folan's hands despite her best attempt at stopping it. 

The excitement was short-lived, however, as the Greyhounds answered with 31 minutes remaining in the game. The PL Offensive Player of the Year Hayes served a corner perfectly into the box where Nicole Wahlig perfectly struck it to end BU's five-game shutout streak.

BU turned it into high-gear and found two more opportunities but couldn't convert on either. Fisher nearly beat the goalie on a one-on-one but another gutsy dive on the ball by Folan nullified the chance.

Soon after Erika Kosienski took a shot from 20-yards out that nearly tucked itself under the crossbar but a nifty move by Folan at the last second popped the ball over the crossbar to keep it at 1-1.

In the 84th minute, the Terriers finally found the answer they needed, and scored again off of a set piece. Pleuler was fouled at the top of the box and set up for a free kick at close range. Pleuler's initial shot was saved but the only player to follow the ball was Fisher, and she easily poked it in to ultimately win the game.

BU finished the contest with a 17-8 advantage in shot attempts while ending up even in corner kicks, 7-7. Folan kept the Greyhounds in the contest with seven saves, including five in the second half.

The top-seeded Terriers will next host No. 2 Bucknell, who earned a 3-0 win over No. 3 Navy later in the night, on Sunday (Nov. 8) at 1 p.m. BU will be in search of its 13th NCAA appearance and 12th overall conference tournament crown.