Early Goals Carry BU Over UMass Lowell, 2-1

Thursday, August 25

Lowell, MA

7:30 PM

Boston University

2-1-0, 0-0-0

UMass Lowell

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Boston U.

UMass Lowell

Photo by: Tim Carey

August 25, 2022 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Postgame Audio - Coach Brown and Abigail McNulty

LOWELL, Mass. - Behind first-half goals from junior Abigail McNulty and freshman Giulianna Gianino, the Boston University women's soccer program defeated UMass Lowell 2-1 on Thursday evening at Cushing Field for its first road win of the year.

The Terriers have won two straight, and improve to 2-1 on the campaign. The River Hawks fall to 1-2 this season.

BU notched its first goal in the opening half this year with Gianino's unassisted strike in the eighth minute. McNulty's 20th-minute goal, her first of the season, gave the visitors their first multi-goal lead on the year. UMass Lowell snapped the shutout with a Calliste Brookshire score with five seconds left, but ran out of time to level the score.

Goalkeepers Celia Braun and Gretchen Bennett combined for four saves on the night, including a penalty kick stop from Bennett in the 81st minute.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On Gianino's goal in the eighth minute, the rookie shook off a defender and raced from the left sideline to the middle of the field, drilling a 25-yard shot into the left side of the net.
McNulty scored when graduate student Amy Thompson fended off a defender in the right corner and crossed it to a streaking McNulty, who tucked the ball into the right post.
In the 38th minute, the River Hawks entered the BU zone, where Chloe Layne lofted a shot from the left of the penalty box. Braun backpedaled the leaped to snag the ball.
BU generated a corner kick in the opening minutes of the second half, but could not create a shot. UMass Lowell went the other end and coaxed Bennett into collecting a loose ball.
Both Gianino and McNulty had chances for a brace around the 57th minute, but the freshman's shot went right to the UMass Lowell keeper, while McNulty's attempt hit the side of the net.
Starting in the 62nd minute, BU ripped off a three-minute sequence that featured four corner kicks and a direct kick from 12 yards out near the right post, but the River Hawk back line held firm. Freshman Margy Porta later zipped a shot that was saved in the 67th minute.
UMass Lowell was awarded the penalty kick in the 81st minute, taken by Ioanna Papatheodorou. The River Hawk shot lower-right, and Bennett dove to deny the shot. Papatheodorou tried to bury the rebound, but Bennett scooped it up.
Brookshire put UMass Lowell on the board in the 90th minute with a finish from the left inside 15 yards.

GAME NOTES

BU sported a 15-10 advantage in shots, including a 7-5 edge on goal.
The Terriers also manifested 12 corner kicks, a season-high. BU entered the contest tied for 21st in Division I in corners per contest.
Bennett's penalty kick save was the first in her career. It was the first for a BU netminder since Braun stopped a chance against Boston College on Aug, 26, 2021.
Gianino has scored in two consecutive games, taking over the team lead in scoring. She is the first Terrier freshman to find the back of the net in back-to-back games since Taylor Kofton in 2018.
McNulty's goal is the third in her career, and her 13th point since the beginning of last season.
BU joins Navy as the two Patriot League programs to reach two wins to this point.
The Terriers improve to 2-0-1 all-time against UMass Lowell. Thursday's win was the first at Lowell, Mass.

UP NEXT

The Terriers return home to face off against. #RV Michigan, who was ranked in the top 10 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 poll, on Sunday (Aug. 28). Opening kick from Nickerson Field is slated for 12 p.m.