BOSTON – Junior Giulianna Gianino opened the 2024 campaign with two second-half goals, but the Boston University women's soccer team's comeback against Northwestern fell short in a 3-2 defeat on Thursday evening at Nickerson Field.
 
In the 2024 season lidlifter for both teams, the Wildcats (1-0) scored three goals within the first 33 minutes of the match. However, the Terriers (0-1) shut out Northwestern in the second half, scoring twice to pull within one and a potential game-tying chance stopped in the final minute.
 
Gianino posted two of BU's five shots on the night. Senior Eileen Solomon and junior Morgan Weaver provided the assists on the two tallies.
 
Three different Wildcats found the back of the net. Kennedy Roesch recorded a goal and an assist, while Caterina Regazzoni and Megan Norkett supplied goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Norkett opened the scoring in the sixth minute, winning a 1-on-1 battle with her defender on the left end line and sneaking her shot past senior Celia Braun towards the right post.
• Braun would make two consecutive saves in the 11th minute, diving to her right to swat away Roesch's blast, then collecting a header from Emma Phillips.
• Roesch got revenge in the 30th minute, however, when her left-corner cross found Regazzoni for the one-timer into the lower-left of the goal for a 2-0 Wildcat edge.
• Three minutes later, Roesch settled a 50-50 ball and zipped a 25-yard shot into the netting, making it 3-0.
• In the 50th minute, junior Shayla Brown inserted a corner kick that Northwestern couldn't clear. Solomon poked the ball away from goalkeeper Reiley Fitzpatrick, and Gianino deposited it by the right post to put BU on the board.
• Braun helped keep it a two-goal game in the 64th minute when Roesch whipped a shot from atop the box on goal, leading to a sprawling save for Braun to her right.
• The Terriers pulled within one in the 77th minute. Weaver intercepted a Wildcat clear and raced down the right sideline, crossing the ball to Gianino. The Norwell, Mass. product entered the 18-yard box and flicked her shot off the left post and in.
• Norkett nearly secured a brace in the 85th minute, but her chance rattled off the crossbar.
• With 45 seconds to play, senior Allison Hanlon settled a Northwestern clear and fed graduate student Lily Matthews. She flicked the ball to freshman Juliana Osterman, who slipped past the back line for a 1-on-1 opportunity with Fitzpatrick. The Wildcat netminder got a piece of Osterman's blast to seal the result. 

STATS

• Northwestern sported a 15-5 advantage in shots, with nine coming in the first half.
• Braun made six saves, while Fitzpatrick stopped one shot.
• Corner kicks favored the Terriers, 5-2. Four occurred in the final 45 minutes.
• The Wildcats were assessed two yellow cards in the match.
• Overall, 21 Terriers saw time on the pitch. Gianino and Braun were the lone Terriers to play the full 90 minutes.

NOTES

• Gianino is the first Terrier to score two goals in a season opener since Brea Hewitt did so against Central Connecticut State on Aug. 17, 2012.
• She has scored BU's first goal of the year in all three of her seasons.
• Weaver notched her first collegiate point with her assist on Gianino's second goal.
• Solomon's helper was her first point in a non-conference matchup, and first since Oct. 14, 2023 at Bucknell.
• Freshman Jaiden Schultz started in her collegiate debut.
• Classmates Maddie Green and Juliana Osterman, as well as junior transfers Gianna Savella and Helene Tyburczy, also played their first matches as Terriers.

UP NEXT

• BU continues its homestand when it hosts Northeastern on Sunday (Aug. 18). Opening kick is scheduled for 6 p.m.