BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boosted by a strong defensive effort and a 78th-minute strike by senior Jenna Oldham, the Boston University women's soccer team claimed another critical three Patriot League points on the road with a 1-0 win at Lehigh on Friday night.

The Terriers (6-5-1, 3-1-0 PL) became just the second opponent this season to hold the Mountain Hawks (4-5-1, 2-1-1 PL) to single-digit shot attempts (6) for their fourth win in five games. After junior goalkeeper Gretchen Bennett helped BU clear all five Lehigh corner kicks in the first half, freshman Celia Braun earned the lone save in the second for their third shutout of the year. Freshman Eileen Solomon drew the foul in the box that set up Oldham's initial penalty kick attempt and shot on the rebound.

"We came out strong in the second half and set the tone with our defending and putting them under pressure," said head coach Nancy Feldman. "We did a good job of limiting their time spent in our defensive half of the field by both applying pressure defensively high up in their field and keeping the ball. We've been struggling a little with our second half performance, particularly at the beginning. It was a focus of ours, and the players knew how they wanted to change the narrative. They did what they said they wanted to do.
 
"Home or away, we want to establish our style and make sure roles are clear," she added. "We're getting to the point in the season where we know how we want to play to be successful. Our team is really focusing on the details. I mean the detail of being the first player or players to a ball off a penalty kick is something you work on in preseason. Those are the little things that the players are committed to. We're still taking it one game at a time. We're excited to get back to Nickerson Field and do what we've been doing on the road."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountain Hawks came out attacking early and drew three corners in the first seven minutes with the last one leading to a shot off the crossbar and a rebound attempt over the net.
• Junior Marli Rajacich's shot attempt was blocked at 20:29, and classmate Julianna Stureman sent the rebound just wide a second later.
• Though the game was scoreless at the half, BU finished attempting the final three shots with senior Ashley Raphael forcing the game's first save from either team at 44:21.
• The Terriers dominated possession in the second half and nearly took the lead in the 50th minute when junior Ashley Buck's header off Oldham's corner kick was blocked.
• Abby Trainor stepped up with her second save for Lehigh at 58:59 on senior Amy Thompson's header set up by Oldham's corner.
• Braun made BU's lone save a minute later off Corinne Lyght's attempt.
• Though unable to convert on back-to-back corner kicks in the 77th minute, BU continued to apply pressure, and Solomon was eventually able to draw a foul in the box at 77:31.
• Trainor stopped Oldham's penalty kick but was unable to maintain possession on the hard shot, as all the players crashed the net and Oldham put a touch on the ball with the side of her foot for what proved to be the game winner.
• BU prevented Lehigh from attempting a shot for the final 27 minutes of regulation.

GAME NOTES

• The PL Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Oldham now has 13 points this season off four goals and five assists through 12 games after combining for seven in her first 43 appearances.
• BU's nine corner kicks tied for its second most this season, while the seven-shot advantage (13-6) tied for the largest margin this season following a 2-1 win and 15-8 shot advantage vs. Lafayette.
• The Terriers avenged their 1-0 loss at Lehigh in 2019.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will open a three-game homestand by hosting Yale on Tuesday (Oct. 5) at 7 p.m.
• BU will be facing the Bulldogs for the first time since claiming a 3-1 win at Nickerson Field in 2011.