Northeastern, BC Women Advance

Huskies, Eagles Will Square Off Sunday in NCAA Second Round Match

November 15, 2008

The Northeastern and Boston College women’s soccer teams both won in NCAA first round play in Newton Friday, and will face each other Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Huskies defeated Harvard in penalty kicks, 4-2, after playing to a 2-2 draw through regulation and two overtime periods. Kelly Matthews scored both Husky goals in regulation and also scored on the fourth penalty kick to insure Husky victory.

The Huskies also got penalty kick goals from Kirby Anderson, Brenna Matthews and Gabbi Jatkola.

Kelly Matthews netted her first goal at 20:38 after Liza Rebello made a great move on the defense before dishing a pass to the charging Matthews, who was able to fire a shot off the post and in for the game’s first goal.

Harvard would answer back just 15 minutes later when Erin Wylie squeezed a ball through the Husky defense to Christina Hagner, who booted the ball through the hands of Northeastern goalkeeper Stephanie Gordon to notch the game at 1-1.

In the second half, Harvard managed to take the lead when Wylie fired a shot that went off defender Leslie Condie and then back out to Wylie again, who drilled a shot into the upper left hand corner.

Fans from both Northeastern and Harvard were in attendance and they did not disappoint, as their vocal support throughout the match seemed to energize the players on the pitch.

“What a great atmosphere for soccer today,” said NU head coach Ed Matz. “I credit both the fans from NU and Harvard for really showing their school spirit and getting behind these girls. They helped make this game the best that it possibly could be.”

At 70:04, Kelly Matthews was once again able to put one past the Harvard keeper. This time it was on a free kick from 25 yards out that one-hopped the wet turf and went through the hands of Lauren Mann, who had two saves on the night.

Gordon made clutch plays throughout the game, including in the 78th minute when Harvard’s Hana Taiji was able to get free in the box and rip a shot that was denied by the diving Gordon.

Gordon again came up big in the second overtime when Melanie Baskind let go a hard shot from inside the box that required another diving stop from the Husky keeper.

It continued in the PK shootout, as Gordon stopped Nicole Rhodes on Harvard’s first kick and then forcing Erin Wylie to miss the net on the fourth attempt.

Things were a little less stressful for BC, as the host Eagles took a 3-0 win over Central Connecticut State.

The Eagles scored on a first half penalty kick and had two second half goals to capture the first round victory.

BC sophomore Amy Caldwell earned the penalty when she attempted to break through two Blue Devil defenders and was dropped in the box. Senior Caitlin Hiler stepped up to the spot and placed the shot to the far right corner for an Eagles 1-0 lead. It was Hiler’s third goal of the season.

Sophomore Brooke Knowlton gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead when she knocked in a pass from Caldwell in the 47th minute of play. Knowlton was five yards out and alone in front when Caldwell slid the ball to her and the forward one-timed a shot by Central keeper Erin Herd.

Knowlton now has nine goals and three assists for a team-leading 21 points.

In the 56th minute, freshman Stephanie Wirth registered her third goal when she out-hustled a Central defender for a ball which Knowlton slid towards the goal. Wirth one-timed her shot by a diving Herd as the Eagles took a 3-0 lead.

Boston College freshman keeper Jillian Mastroianni had three saves on the way to her ninth clean sheet this season.