Lady Terriers hang tough with undefeated Minnesota

Gophers, 10-0, hold off BU in Minnesota Gold Classic action

September 22, 2008

The Boston University women’s soccer team fell to host Minnesota, 1-0, Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Minnesota Gold Classic.

The Gophers scored the game-winning goal with one minute remaining in the first half and withstood the Terriers’ offensive pressure in the second stanza to earn the shutout. BU falls to 4-5 on the season, while Minnesota remains undefeated at 10-0.

In the first stanza, the Terriers came out aggressively in attack and the backline was able to withstand Minnesota’s counter attacks. After some back and forth action, however, the Gophers broke the scoreless deadlock in the last minute before halftime as Katie Shelander dished the ball off to Shari Eckstrom, who lofted a high shot up the middle for the go-ahead goal.

To start the second half, BU forced Minnesota keeper Lindsey Dare to make a trio of saves as freshman Jessica Luscinski, junior Mara Osher and senior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge peppered Dare with shots.

With less than 15 minutes remaining in regulation, the Terriers began to press more and more to test Minnesota’s backline, but the hosts held firm. The Gophers nearly went up by two when Molly Rouse’s shot sailed just wide of the right post at 82:47.

Schumacher-Hodge led the offense with three shots - one on goal - while sophomore Janie Reilly made two saves in net.

BU will return to Nickerson Field on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when it hosts nationally ranked Brown at 7 p.m.