The women's soccer team dropped its season opener last night, falling 2-0 to Boston College at Stevenson Field. The loss drops the Bears to 0-1 on the year, while the 10th-ranked Eagles improved to 2-0.
Bruno was up to the challenge of playing a very skilled BC team from the start of the game. In the first half, Brown's defense kept the Eagles from generating any quality scoring chances. The Bears' backline limited BC to shots only outside the 18-yard box and beyond. Co-captains Julia Shapira '08 and Kerrilynn Carney '08 led the backs and seemingly won every ball out of the air.
Midfielder Bridget Ballard '10 said tenacity was the reason Brown was so effective at winning contested balls in the early stages.
"Our intensity was strong," Ballard said. "They are a top-10 team and we matched their intensity."
Ballard in particular was strong on the ball, at one point holding off three Eagles in a midfield that BC controlled most of the night. The Eagles maintained possession far more effortlessly than the Bears, who at times were forced to simply clear their end with long balls due to pressure from the opposition. The difference in possession time also led to an imbalance in shots and scoring opportunities in the Eagles'favor.
Fortunately for the Bears, the half ended scoreless thanks to two spectacular saves by goalkeeper Steffi Yellin '10. On a save in the fifth minute she leaped and tipped a shot up off the crossbar. Then, with two minutes left in the first half, she threw her body into the middle of the box to corral a threatening cross.
Momentum swung in the Bears' favor coming out of the half.
Julie Wu '09 helped the Brown backline maintain its strong play, as she repeatedly won the ball off of her attackers' feet.
With 21 minutes remaining, just as things were looking up for Bruno, BC scored the first goal of the night. The Eagles played a short corner kick to a late-coming attacker, who crossed the ball to the backpost. The pass ended up on the foot of Natalie Crutchfield, who placed the ball just under the crossbar.
Brown's offense, led all night by forward Lindsay Cunningham '09, tried to respond, but could not put one away in the waning minutes. Midfielder Kiki Manners '10 almost got a foot on a cross right in front of the BC net with 17 minutes to play but could not finish. A few minutes later, midfielder Melissa Kim '10 and forward Kellie Slater '10 had consecutive shots blocked just inside the box.
"We played a good game overall," Ballard said. "We just have to put some balls in the back of the net."
As Brown pressed on, BC was able to take advantage of another corner kick, scoring its second goal with five minutes remaining and putting the game away.
"We got beat off set pieces," Ballard said. "Its something we always have to work on."
The team will look to rebound in its road opener Tuesday at the University of New Hampshire.
