Other Results Slide Colgate into Patriot League Postseason Despite 3-0 Setback to BU
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – Oct. 23, 2013) A tough night for Colgate at least had a silver lining: the Raiders qualified for the Patriot League Tournament.
Boston University scored twice in the opening nine minutes and never looked back, posting a 3-0 women’s soccer victory over Colgate here Wednesday night at Van Doren Field. But losses by Lehigh and Holy Cross pushed the Raiders into the tournament.
Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn felt the Terriers were just a little more on the ball.
“BU was fantastic, and they got off to such an effective start,” she said. “They came out with a lot of energy, they were aggressive and they out-worked us. We were out-worked today for one of the first times I can remember.
“That’s something we are bound and determined not to let happen again.”
Boston University improved to 11-3-3 overall and 6-1 in the Patriot League, while Colgate is now 8-5-1 and 4-2-1.
Navy remains in first place on 21 points, with Boston U. second at 18. Colgate and American, which also lost Wednesday, remain tied for third on 13 points, just ahead of Bucknell’s 10. This year’s Patriot League Tournament format calls for the top two teams to receive first-round byes, and Seeds 3 and 4 hosting games against 5 and 6.
Two Quick Strikes
Before the Raiders could really find their rhythm, BU struck not once but twice.
A Terriers corner in the game’s second minute from Emma Clark found the middle of the 18-yard box. Kylie Strom was on the money from six yards out to lift BU to the 1-0 advantage just 1:49 into the contest.
In the ninth minute, the Terriers extended their advantage to 2-0. BU started the attack by playing the ball to Jenna Fisher on the wing. She then sent a dangerous pass into the box, where Madison Clemens connected from eight yards out to the lower left-hand corner past the outstretched arms of Colgate keeper Brenna Mason.
“We were back on our heels from the beginning, unfortunately, and then a little lack of communication there,” Brawn said. “They were opportunistic on both of their first two goals – pretty goals. We dug a hole that we couldn’t get out of.”
Colgate notched its first real chance on net in the 12th minute. Kelsey Hough played a through ball to Sarah Coy, who was making a run down the left sideline. The rookie took one touch before blasting it on net, but Andrea Green came up with the save for Boston U. to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.
Clark gave the Terriers another great look on net a few minutes later when she played a deep ball into the box off a corner kick. Colgate’s Mason read it perfectly and came flying out to punch the ball away before any damage could be done.
The Raiders answered on the opposite side of the field when Coy found an opening. Lexi Panepinto started the play by dribbling down the left side of the field. She forced two BU players to come her way, leaving Coy open at the corner of the box. The freshman took one-touch before firing one on net.
Green made the initial save and then fell on the rebound before Colgate could finish it off.
Two minutes before half, Mason came up huge again for the Raiders when she made a stellar save. After Clark intercepted the ball in midfield, she tried her luck. Her riffled shot looked goal-bound but Mason just got her palm on it to push it up and over the crossbar.
Learning Experience
Five minutes after intermission, the Terriers created their three-goal margin. Fisher found the net this time off a long cross from Strom. Fisher’s one-touch into the back of the goal made it 3-0 at the game’s 50-minute mark.
Following a BU foul, Emily Manoogian played a dangerous ball into the box off a set piece. Chelsea Roche tried to find it with her head but Green was there to punch the ball away from goal.
Jenna Panepinto started a Raiders attack a few minutes later when she fired a shot from long range. Her attempt tested Green, who had to make a diving save to push it out for a corner kick.
The Terriers tightened up their defensive efforts in the remaining minutes to secure the 3-0 victory. Shots were 12-5 in favor of the visitors, who also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
“It was definitely a learning experience for us,” Brawn said. “There are some things we will do in preparation, should we face them again.
“But there are things we will do just in preparation for our next game, to make sure we start at 100 percent and not at 80 percent.”
Colgate travels to Lehigh (4-9-2, 2-4) this Saturday, and then returns to Hamilton to close the regular season. The Raiders host Princeton on Tuesday and American on Nov. 2. All three remaining games are 7 p.m. starts.