BOSTON – In a matchup between the defending Patriot League and Ivy League champions, Princeton's Country O'Brien drove in a pair of first-half goals to lead the Tigers past the Boston University women's soccer team, 4-0, Thursday night at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.
Despite the loss,
Morgan Messner stopped 12 of 16 shots on goal. The sophomore's 12 saves were the most by a Terrier netminder since Meghan Lynch stopped 12 shots at James Madison in 1997.
How It Happened
- Princeton's Courtney O'Brien paid dividends on a counter attack in the 19th minute, going solo from midfield and finished in the upper right corner.
- O'Brien struck again just over four minutes later, corralling a feed at the edge of the 18-yard box before driving a one-touch shot just inside the near goalpost.
- Anna Heilferty almost cut the deficit in half, arcing a strike from 20 yards off that landed off the top crossbar with 15 minutes left in the first half.
- Regrouping at the intermission, Ashley Raphael almost poked a lose ball inside the six-yard box into the back of the net one minute into the second frame, but Natalie Grossi came up with a quick-reaction stop.
- Messner mirrored Grossi's effort with a point-blank save inside the six-yard box in the 53rd minute, preventing a hat trick for O'Brien.
- However, the Tigers were able to make it a 3-0 game in the 71st minute, as Messner came up with an initial save off a corner kick, but Gabi Juarez punched in the rebound.
- Princeton tacked on another score with five minutes left, as Marissa Hart won a one-on-one battle inside the box.
Game Notes
- BU's keepers have made at least six saves in three of the team's first five games.
- Despite the two-goal halftime deficit, the Terriers trailed just 8-7 in shots through the first 45 minutes.
Up Next
- BU will play its final non-conference road game on Sunday, Sept. 8 at UConn.
- Following Sunday's 1 p.m. contest against the Huskies, the Terriers will close out the month of September at Nickerson Field, playing four straight home games.
