Photo of women's soccer junior Celia Braun holding the ball while looking to pass.
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Women’s Soccer Visits No. 20 Northwestern on Thursday

August 30, 2023

BOSTON – After extending its home unbeaten streak to four games, the Boston University women's soccer program begins a two-game road swing at Big Ten foe #20 Northwestern on Thursday (Aug. 31). Opening kick is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
 
BU's (2-1-1) next two matches serve as the final road non-conference tilts of the season already. Thursday's match is the farthest west the Terriers will travel this year. The Wildcats (3-0-1), winners of two in a row, compete in their third home game in four total matches on their slate.
 
Thursday's game will air on B1G+, which requires a subscription. For more information, please visit bigtenplus.com. Live statistics are available using the link at the top of the article, courtesy of Northwestern Athletics.
 
TERRIER TIDBITS
  • BU comes off a come-from-behind, 3-2 triumph over UAlbany on Sunday (Aug. 27) at Nickerson Field.
  • Trailing 2-1 with eight minutes left, senior Lily Matthews sent home a cross from junior Morgan Fagan for the equalizer.
  • Exactly 60 seconds later, sophomore Mackenzie Stickelman headed home freshman Samantha Aronson's corner kick to seal the victory.
  • For her game-winning tally, Stickelman was selected as the Patriot League Midfielder of the Week for the week of Aug. 28.
  • She as well as classmate Natalie Godoy, who got BU on the board in the 11th minute, scored their first-career goals.
  • The Terriers joined their men's soccer counterparts in scoring two goals against the Great Danes in the final eight minutes of a home game last week. BU's men's program did so on Thursday (Aug. 24) in a 2-1 victory to open its 2023 campaign.
  • BU's three goals were a season-high. Last season, the Terriers had one three-goal game during the regular season, a 3-1 win at Loyola Maryland on Oct. 22.
  • The sophomore class has potted three of BU's four goals in 2023. Giulianna Gianino, the team leader with 14 shots, found the back of the net in the season lidlifter.
  • BU last faced a top-20 opponent on Nov. 11, 2018, playing No. 19 LSU to a scoreless draw before falling in penalty kicks in the NCAA Tournament's opening round.
  • The last time BU squared off against a top-20 side in the regular season was No. 14 Princeton on Aug. 26, 2018, with the Tigers prevailing, 1-0.
  • BU's last ranked win was against No. 25 Harvard on Oct. 4, 2022. Abigail McNulty buried the game's lone goal, while Celia Braun made nine saves.
  • All-time, the Terriers are 3-12-1 against the Big Ten. BU has two wins against Northwestern, and one over Wisconsin. Overall, the Terriers have played seven different Big Ten programs, including home matches against Michigan State and Michigan in 2019 and 2022, respectively. 
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
  • The Wildcats are 3-0-1 on the year, most recently defeating Toledo on the road, 3-1, last Sunday (Aug. 27).
  • Northwestern has outscored foes 14-1 on the year. This includes wins over Marquette (4-0) and Oakland (7-0), as well as a scoreless draw with Kansas State.
  • After receiving votes in last week's poll, Northwestern is up to 20th in the nation in the latest installment of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 rankings.
  • Josie Aulicino, the reigning B1G Offensive Player of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week recipient, leads the Wildcats in scoring with four goals and an NCAA-best six assists.
  • Reiley Fitzpatrick has played the majority of minutes between the posts, tallying a 0.27 goals-against average with eight saves in over 329 minutes.
  • Northwestern was projected to finish second in the B1G Preseason Poll following a 16-5-2 performance in 2022 to reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
SERIES HISTORY
  • Thursday marks the fourth all-time meeting between BU and Northwestern in a series that began in 1999.
  • BU sports a 2-1 advantage in the rivalry.
  • The Terriers defeated the Wildcats in overtime, 4-3, in the lone matchup that took place in Evanston, Ill. back on Sept. 12, 1999.
  • BU also triumphed at Nickerson Field, 2-1, on Sept. 1, 2013. Madison Clemens and Ana Cuffia found the back of the net while Alyssa Parisi posted a three-save shutout in her first-career start.
  • Northwestern was victorious in the last meeting on Aug. 28, 2015, a 2-0 result in Milwaukee, Wis. that was scoreless for the first 72 minutes. 
UP NEXT
  • BU returns to the Greater Boston area and takes the Green Line to visit Northeastern on Sunday (Sept. 3). Opening kick is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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