Boston College women’s soccer looked to close out the season at home in an ACC matchup against Clemson while honoring seniors Alison Heckman, Megan Crevoiserat, and Emily Knous as well as four graduate students Jenna Bike, Mia Karras, Haley Thomas, and Abby McNamara at Senior Night.
After one quick goal from each team, BC (7–10–1, 1–9–0) couldn’t keep up with the Tigers (11–5–1, 6–3–1 Atlantic Coast), who were in desperate need of a win to secure an ACC Tournament berth. Clemson proved to be too much for the Eagles, notching a 4–1 win to conclude the regular season.
“From a culture standpoint, from an academic standpoint, from an athletic standpoint, our sideline is incredibly grateful for each and every one of them,” BC associate head coach Taylor Schram said after the game regarding the seven players who played their last game as an Eagle on Thursday.
Clemson wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, knocking in its first goal at the four-minute mark. BC’s goalkeeper Wiebke Willebrandt was forced into an ill-advised pass, which Clemson intercepted, leading to a wide-open goal for Caroline Conti at the top of the box.
A similar goalkeeper mishap—this time by Clemson’s Hensley Hancuff, who had miscommunication with Megan Bornkamp over who should control the ball—resulted in a deflected pass that set up BC’s Sam Agresti perfectly in front of an open goal.
That score would only remain 1–1 for nine short minutes, as Clemson found the goal once again off a corner kick. It was Conti once again, receiving a back-door pass that set up the finish.
BC continued to struggle with possession for the rest of the first half, as Clemson out shot BC 12–3. Clemson added its third goal of the half in the 19th minute off a pass from Maliah Morris that set up Clemson’s Renee Lyles for an acrobatic goal.
“We gotta be a little more dialed in on set pieces. Way too easy of a goal on the corner. Just got to clean some things up,” BC head coach Jason Lowe said at halftime on ESPNU’s broadcast.
The Eagles emerged from halftime with more energy and aggression to their play. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Egan saw her first action of the season, letting up only one goal. Aside from an accidental handball by Laura Gouvin that led to a penalty kick and score for Bornkamp, BC played a hard-fought half to close out its season.
“I think we’re going to try to get better on the defensive side of the ball,” Schram said, looking forward to the offseason. “Everybody … has got to be able to handle the physicality of the ACC, and I think that from our forwards to our midfielders to our defenders to our goalkeeping, we need to get better on the defensive side of the ball, and you know, we’ll work on that from a technique standpoint, from a physicality standpoint, and just continue to build.”
Featured Image by Nicole Wei / Heights Staff
