Boston College women’s soccer wrapped up its preparations for the 2019 campaign on Saturday with a 3-1 road win over Vermont. Played at Applejack Stadium in Manchester, Vt., as a part of the Manchester Soccer Series, the Eagles braved a 36th-minute rain delay that lasted upwards of an hour to beat the Catamounts and close out their preseason unbeaten.
BC, which opens its season at home against Massachusetts on Thursday, largely controlled the pace of play and created the balance of chances in the victory. It was the first meeting since 2011 between the two sides, and the Catamounts—who finished two games under .500 in 2018—struggled to keep up with their visitors.
Mia Karras, the Eagles’ right back, created the game’s first goal shortly after the weather cleared up. The sophomore deftly beat a defender down the right side with a touch inside, then played a centering pass to the middle of the UVM box. Her teammate Erin Convery was there to bury the goal with a wide-open right-footed finish, beating Catamounts keeper Kacey Lambertson with relative ease.
The second goal, with just over four minutes left in the half, came as the result of a beautiful ball from none other than Karras. She spotted Samantha Agresti making a run down the middle of the field and found the freshman right at the 18-yard box, and she touched it past UVM’s Lambertson.
BC pushed its lead to a comfortable 3-0 in the 53rd minute. This time, Riley Lochhead caught up to a through ball down the left side and put a shot on net. It was saved at the near post, but the rebound on the doorstep of the goal landed right in front of Sam Smith, who tapped it home with ease. It was the second goal in as many games for Smith, who tallied in the Eagles’ 1-0 shutout of Colgate last week.
UVM managed to answer with a goal of its own in the 60th minute, but that was the only time it could crack the BC defense. Catamounts forward Natalie Durieux saw her effort in the box denied, but the rebound off Eagles goaltender Maddie Murphy was knocked in by Nicky Constant.
It was a solid win to close preseason for first-year head coach Jason Lowe and BC, which looks to replicate its 2018 success—the final season under longtime head coach Alison Foley. The Eagles showed effective combination passing, the ability to possess the ball throughout the pitch, and were largely stout on defense. Karras looked particularly strong in setting up chances from the right side, while Agresti and Smith have now both demonstrated finishing ability in their first few games.
Featured Image Courtesy of BC Athletics
