BOSTON, Mass. - The No. 1 seed Boston University women's soccer program (11-5-3, 6-1-2 PL) defeated No. 6 Army (7-9-3, 3-4-2 PL) 1-0 in the Patriot League Semifinals on Thursday evening at Nickerson Field, earning a spot in the title game.

The Terriers will host the championship on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m., and will face off against fourth-seeded Bucknell, who upset No. 2 Navy 1-0 in overtime on Thursday.

Junior Marli Rajacich scored in the 51st minute for the game's lone tally. In the 51st minute, classmate Kayla Ross lofted a pass to sophomore Abigail McNulty in the left corner. The forward fed a running Rajacich with a beautiful cross near the left corner, leading to a one-timer of a finish from the Minnesota native.

Less than 10 minutes later, junior Gretchen Bennett made a sprawling save against Army's Jasmine to preserve the one-goal lead. Bennett played the full 90 minutes, making the lone save in the shutout for her seventh win of 2021.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Army launched the first shot of the game as Trinity Garay blasted a ball that bounced off the right post in the seventh minute.
• Garay had another chance blocked in the 13th minute. On the ensuing end, sophomore Lily Matthews tried a finish just inside the box that rolled wide left.
• Within a span of 1:13 begining in the 20th minute, the Black Knights had three corner kicks, but were unable to generate a shot on any of them.
• Junior Sophia Woodland and freshman Eileen Solomon each had shots blocked in the final minutes of the first half as the game was scoreless into the break.
• Following Rajacich's goal, her second of the season, Matthews almost put the Terriers ahead 2-0, but had a shot blocked.
• Talley was loose just outside the penalty box for Army's best chance of the night in the 59th minute. Bennett dove to her right to push it away, then swarmed the loose ball to prevent further damage.
• In the 72nd minute, senior Amy Thompson had a shot deflected, leading to a corner kick. Senior Jenna Oldham inserted the ball, and it trickled out to Woodland by the right post. She shot it, but Army keeper Sage Strohman made the save.
• Rajacich vied for the brace minutes later, sending a ball in transition wide right, then having another attempt blocked.
• The Black Knights' last opportunity almost manifested from their corner kick in the 85th minute, but the ball was punched away.

GAME NOTES

• Shots favored BU 10-7, including a 6-1 mark after halftime. Both teams recorded one save each.
• In total, there were eight blocked shots in the game.
• Rajacich and Garay each had three shots to pace their squads.
• For Rajacich, this was her first goal since Oct. 13 against Holy Cross.
• McNulty is now tied with Oldham for the team lead with seven assists. Ross recorded her first helper since Oct. 9 vs. American.
• Bennett played the entire game for the first time in her collegiate career, recording her first individual shutout as a Terrier, and taking part in her seventh of the season.
• The Terriers advance to their sixth Patriot League championship game in nine seasons in the league, and improve to 10-3-1 all-time in the tournament.
• BU is now 9-1-2 all-time against Army, and 2-0-0 in the Patriot League Tournament.

UP NEXT

• No. 1 BU and No. 4 Bucknell clash for the Patriot League Championship on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. from Nickerson Field.
• The Terriers aim for their fifth Patriot League title, and their first since 2018.
• BU and the Bison have met three times in the Patriot League Tournament.