No. 1 Boston University (11-5-3, 6-1-2 PL) vs. No. 4 Bucknell (10-7-3, 5-2-2 PL)
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 7 | 1 p.m.
Venue: Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Twitter:
@BUGameDay |
@TerrierWSOC
Upon advancing to the program's sixth Patriot League Championship game in nine seasons as a league member, the top-seeded Boston University women's soccer team seeks to capture their fifth Patriot League crown, facing No. 4 Bucknell in the title match. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
BU, who won its fourth Patriot League regular season championship this year, looks to win its 14th conference title in program history, and first since 2018. The Bison, meanwhile, also vie for their fifth Patriot League crown, and their first since 2017.
After earning a bye through the quarterfinal round, the Terriers took down No. 6 Army 1-0 on Thursday evening at Nickerson Field. Bucknell reaches the title match after dispatching No. 5 Lehigh 2-0 in the quarterfinals in Lewisburg, Pa., then upsetting two-seed Navy 1-0 on the road in the semifinals.
The BU Athletics Department will have a free Raising Cane's tailgate for fans prior to the match.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- The Terriers triumphed over the Black Knights thanks to junior Marli Rajacich's tally in the 51st minute, after touches from sophomore Abigail McNulty and junior Kayla Ross.
- In goal, junior Gretchen Bennett played the full 90 minutes for the first time in her career, making one save in the shutout win.
- The Terriers improved to 8-2 in games decided by one goal in 2021.
- The shutout was BU's seventh of the season. The team has allowed more than goal against a league foe once: at Bucknell on Oct. 16.
- BU enters the championship bout on a nine-match unbeaten streak, dating back to Sept. 25. During that span, it has outscored opponents 15-5, with five blank sheets for the defense.
- In five Patriot League title games, the Terriers have outscored opponents 6-3.
- The Terriers are 6-3-2 at Nickerson Field this year.
- In her last five games, All-Patriot League First Team selection McNulty has five assists.
- Rajacich has notched a point in three of her previous five matches. Her goal vs. the Black Knights was the second for her this year. She became the seventh Terrier to score multiple times in 2021.
- Bennett has allowed just two goals in her last 12 appearances, a span of 605 minutes. She sports a 0.98 goals-against average and .783 save percentage this season.
SCOUTING THE BISON
- Bucknell went 5-2-2 in Patriot League play to capture the fourth seed in the tournament.
- The Bison have gone 4-6-1 away from home prior to Sunday.
- Bucknell leads the league in shots per game (16.45), assists (31), shutouts (8), and corners (138).
- Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Rylee Donaldson leads the Bison and the league with 10 goals on the year.
- Midfielder Teresa Deda, who scored the game-winning goal against the Mids, joined Donaldson on the All-Patriot League First Team.
- Defender Claire Mensi (Second Team), midfielder Abby Gearhart (Third Team), and goalkeeper Jenna Hall (Third Team) also earned postseason accolades.
SERIES HISTORY
- Sunday marks the 12th all-time meeting between BU and Bucknell, and the fourth in the Patriot League Tournament.
- The Terriers beat the Bison for the 2015 championship, while Bucknell flipped the script a year later. Both sides squared off in the 2017 semifinals, with the Bison coming out on top.
- In this year's regular season meeting, the two teams dueled to a 2-2 draw in the Keystone State.
- Junior Geovanna Pereira leveled the score 1-1 in the 50th minute, then sophomore Lily Matthews found the back of the net with 2:31 left in regulation to knot the game at two.
- Gearhart scored both goals for Bucknell.
- The Bison spot a 5-1-1 advantage in the series' last seven matchups.
WITH A WIN…
- BU would earn the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, making its 15th appearance in the bracket.
- The full 64-team field will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. The first round takes place between Friday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 14.
