Terriers Drop 2-1 Loss at Harvard

Thursday, September 11

Cambridge, MA

7 PM

Boston University

3-3-1, 0-0-0

Harvard

1-3-2, 0-0-0

Boston U.

Harvard

Photo by: Eliza Nuestro

September 11, 2025 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Postgame Audio - Megan Burke

NORTH ALLSTON, Mass. – Senior Giulianna Gianino notched her fourth goal of the season, but the Boston University women's soccer program sustained a 2-1 loss to local foe Harvard on Thursday evening at Jordan Field.

BU (3-3-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 21st on Gianino's penalty kick tally. However, the Crimson (1-3-2) found the equalizer in the 28th minute and took the lead for good in the 54th minute to capture their first win in 2025.

Gianino finished with a game high five shots. Classmate Mackenzie Stickelman added two shots to her ledger. Senior goalkeeper Susan Shobeiri made one save.

Anna Rayhill and Caroline Studebaker found the back of the net for Harvard on assists from Elsa Santos Lopez and Susie Long, respectively. Rhiannon Stewart corralled three saves.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gianino had two chances to break the ice near the 11th minute on a 25-yard free kick and a shot inside the box, but the attempts were respectively lifted high and blocked by a closing marker.
Getting behind Stewart, freshman Georgia Prouty was taken down near the goal line to award a penalty kick to the Terriers. Gianino sent the shot low-left, and Stewart couldn't deflect enough of the chance as BU gained the 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.
The Crimson leveled the score seven minutes later, however. Rayhill burst down the right flank and tucked a right-footed shot into the left post behind a diving Shobeiri.
Stickelman and senior Margy Porta sought to replenish the Terrier edge with shots just two minutes apart, but both curled wide right with under 10 minutes until halftime.
Freshman Nina Tzouganatos created another quality chance in the 41st minute, giving way to Porta in the left corner for a cross to the back post that sophomore Juliana Osterman headed towards the goal, but Stewart was there for the save.
The half concluded with Stickelman zipping a shot towards Stewart that was redirected over the woodwork. On the ensuing Terrier corner, Stewart snagged senior Helene Tyburczy's header by the back post.
Harvard took the lead on a 56th-minute corner kick when Long's low-angle insert found Studebaker at the near post, allowing the latter to sneak the ball into the post.
The Crimson were awarded a penalty kick in the 69th minute after Audrey Francois was tripped despite Shobeiri's slide clearing the ball, but Francois' attempt rolled wide left of the goal to keep it a one-goal match.
With under 14 minutes remaining and Francois threatening inside the box, Kennedy poked the ball away from the forward to thwart Harvard's possession.

STATS

The Terriers finished with a 12-10 edge in shots and 4-3 in shots on target. However, 11 of those chances came in the first half.
Each side generated three corner kicks.
Santos Lopez was issued the only yellow card in the match.
Shobeiri, Stickelman, Tzouganatos, Gianino, Tyburzy and junior Ciara Kennedy played the full match.

NOTES

Gianino, now with 58 career points, moves within one point of Nicole Soules '02 for eighth on BU's all-time list.
Tyburczy is the lone Terrier this season to play every minute on the season.
Harvard takes the lead in the all-time series, 11-10-6.

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