Harvard Drops Defensive Battle at Boston University, 1-0

Pictured: Senior Christina Hagner
Photo courtesy: DSPics.com.

BOSTON -- Harvard goalkeeper Lauren Mann made five saves, including two late in the second half, but the Crimson women’s soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss at Boston University Sunday afternoon. The game was broadcast nationally on the Fox Soccer Channel.

After earning a throw-in in the Crimson zone, the Terriers struck on a shot by Megan McGoldrick that found its way inside the far post for a goal at 27:28. Jessica Lucinski played a pass from the left side to McGoldrick who booted the ball from 20 yards out to put BU ahead, 1-0. The Terriers held an 8-3 advantage in shots through the first half, including a 3-1 edge in shots on goal. Christina Hagner mustered Harvard’s lone shot on goal in the first, as she fired the ball directly at BU goalkeeper Janie Reilly late in the 29th minute. Mann stopped three shots in the opening half.

Harvard (1-5-1) had a flurry of chances with 18 minutes remaining in the contest, as the Crimson earned consecutive corner kick opportunities. After Alexandra Conigliaro kicked the first corner into the box, Katherine Sheeleigh grabbed possession and managed a hard shot with her right foot that deflected off Reilly’s hands, hitting the side of the net. Conigliaro took the following corner, but the Terrier defense stole the ball and cleared to midfield. With eight minutes to play, Mann kept the Crimson within one score when she dove to her right to turn aside a header by Taleen Dimirdjian from the center of the box.

The Crimson almost knotted the game with 5:40 left on the clock when Gina Wideroff one-timed a header off a Conigliaro corner kick. Wideroff hit the ball hard, but it sailed inches over the cross bar and out of play. Moments later, Melanie Baskind fired a quick shot from 25 yards out, but Reilly was there to make the stop. The Terriers (3-4-2) owned the final count in shots, 15-7, including a slight, 6-5, lead in the second half. Both teams earned five corner kicks apiece.

The Crimson will now return home to open Ivy League play against Penn Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.