BU Stuns Providence In 2-1 Comeback Victory

Sunday, August 21

Boston, MA

6 PM

Boston University

1-1

Providence

1-1

Providence

Photo by: Tim Carey

August 21, 2022 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Highlights Postgame Audio

BOSTON - Freshman Giulianna Gianino scored the equalizer with 3:15 remaining, and senior Sophia Woodland buried the game-winning goal with 13.1 seconds on the clock to lift the Boston University women's soccer team over Providence in a thrilling 2-1 finish on Sunday night at Nickerson Field.

The Terriers captured their first win of 2022, improving to 1-1 on the campaign. The Friars, a 2021 NCAA Tournament at-large participant, drop to 1-1 this year.

Providence scored in the 15th minute on Meg Hughes' boot, and limited BU to just one shot on goal in the first 84 minutes. However, in the 87th minute, Gianino scored the Terriers' first goal of 2022. In the waning moments, the Friar defense denied a close-range attempt from senior Lily Matthews, but Woodland was able to finish the play to seal the win.

Head Coach Casey Brown, who previously won a game at BU as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and associate head coach, picks up her first victory at the helm of her alma mater.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sophomore Celia Braun made the first save of the game in the sixth minute, diving to her left to deny Gillian Kenney from inside the goal area.
BU generated four corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes, but the only shot generated on the opportunities was a header from graduate student Amy Thompson that sailed high with 9:06 gone by in the game.
The Friar tally came when Elayna Grillakis sent a lead pass to Hughes, who crashed through the middle of the field and found the left side of the net.
Just 32 seconds out of halftime, junior Abigail McNulty was loose in the 18-yard box and flicked a shot that hit the left side of the net.
On the other end, senior goalkeeper Gretchen Bennett, who entered in the second half, denied Kenney near the left post in the 54th minute. Providence earned a corner kick as a result of the play, but did not register a shot.
Four minutes later, graduate student Jenna Oldham sent a direct kick from 30 yards out right into Friar netminder Emma Bodmer, who made her first save of the evening.
Woodland almost had the equalizer in the 75th minute when she was open for a shot at the top of the penalty box, but her blast traveled just over the crossbar.
On Gianino's goal, senior Kayla Ross crossed the ball from the left corner. A Providence defender got a piece of the ball, but Gianino settled it from eight yards out and beat Bodmer with 3:15 on the clock.
The game-winning goal started with Matthews' chance that was blocked in front by a Friar. Matthews got enough of her own rebound to send it behind for Woodland, who was 15 yards from goal. She drilled a shot that deflected off a Friar in front and trickled into the goal near the left post.

GAME NOTES

Providence had the overall advantage in shots at 13-12, but BU shot 10 times in the second half compared to the Friars' seven.
The Terriers also had a 9-3 advantage on corner kicks, giving them 17 in their first two matches.
Bennett made three saves in the second half, while Braun collected two in the first 45 minutes.
Woodland scored for the first time since Aug. 19, 2021 at Northeastern. Two of her three career goals have served as game-winners, with the first coming on Sept. 15, 2019 against Rhode Island.
Three of Woodland's four shots in the young season have been on target.
Gianino, who has started her first two collegiate matches, becomes the first Terrier rookie to score her first-career goal since teammate Eileen Solomon on Oct. 9, 2021.
Ross recorded her third-career assist, while Matthews' helper was her second.
BU improves to 6-2 all-time against Providence, collecting its first win in the rivalry since Sept. 17, 2015 and snapping a two-game losing streak.