Terriers Drop PL Semifinal Match To Bison, 3-1

Thursday, November 2

Lewisburg, PA

7 PM

Boston University

7-7-6

Bucknell (PL Semifinal)

12-3-4

Bucknell

Photo by: Boston University Athletics

Terriers Drop PL Semifinal Match To Bison, 3-1

November 2, 2023 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Postgame Audio - Casey Brown

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Junior Morgan Fagan tallied her fourth goal of the season, but the fourth-seeded Boston University women's soccer program dropped a 3-1 decision to second-ranked Bucknell in the Patriot League semifinal round on Thursday evening at Emmitt Field.

With the result, the Bison (12-3-4) advance to their third-consecutive Patriot League Championship match, and will face No. 1 Army West Point in the title game. The Terriers close the 2023 season with a 7-7-6 record.

Sophomore Giulianna Gianino notched the assist on Fagan's score, and tied with the junior for the team lead with three shots. Junior goalkeeper Celia Braun made four saves.

Patriot League Midfielder of the Year Teresa Deda registered the brace, with Meghan White supplying the other goal. Henna Andican collected two assists to back netminder Jenna Hall, who recorded seven saves.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Bucknell ignited the scoring when Deda sped down the middle of the field before tucking in a 20-yard blast inside the right post in the fifth minute.
Four minutes later, BU was awarded a free kick from 20 yards away central of the goal. Gianino zipped a shot onto Hall, who collected the save on one low hop.
Senior Abigail McNulty toed the top of the box in the 13th minute before whipping a shot just wide right of the net.
The Bison extended their lead in the 24th minute on a give-and-go sequence between Paige Temple and White, with the latter finishing from seven yards out by the left corner of the penalty box.
After BU threatened on a McNulty cross in the 49th minute, Bucknell countered with Hannah Stuck's header near the end line keeping the play alive for Deda to send home her second goal of the match.
Sophomore Natalie Godoy secured a cross from McNulty in the left corner, but Hall denied her eight-yard shot in the 56th minute.
After McNulty's shot sailed high, Fagan zipped a close-range chance near the right of the penalty box in the 62nd minute, coaxing Hall to bat it away.
Junior Hugrún Helgadóttir unleashed a free kick towards the left post from 30 yards away in the 70th minute, but Hall corralled it. Gianino then laced a shot wide left two minutes afterward.
Fagan scored with 12.9 seconds to go when Gianino's shot in the left corner of the penalty box was tipped away by Hall. Fagan raced to the right post and finished past a Bison defender.

STATS

Bucknell sported a 14-13 edge in shots, though BU was up 8-7 in shots on target.
Eleven of the 13 Terrier shots occurred in the second half.
Corner kicks also favored BU, 5-2. Four happened in the final 45 minutes.
Braun, Gianino, senior Grace Ferrara, and sophomore Mackenzie Stickelman played the full 90 minutes.

NOTES

BU played in its 10th Patriot League semifinal round in 11 seasons as a league member.
The Terriers have now recorded a .500 or better record in 26 of their 29 seasons.
This year, BU set a program record for the most draws in a single season with six.
Fagan now has 13 goals and 34 points in 60 career matches.
Gianino finishes 2023 with the team lead in goals (seven), assists (five), and points (19).
BU's sophomore class accounted for 49 of the team's 91 points.
The Terriers' 31 goals and 91 points are the most in a single season since 2015, while their 29 assists are the most since 2011.
The all-time series between BU and Bucknell now stands at 8-5-3 in the Bison's favor.