LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior Morgan Weaver's 86th-minute goal sent the game to overtime and the Boston University women's soccer team went on to win a 10-round penalty-kick shootout to knock off top-seeded Bucknell and claim the program's fifth Patriot League title on Sunday afternoon at Emmitt Field.

Senior goalkeeper Celia Braun came on for penalty kicks and made two saves, including the title-clinching stop after junior Gianna Savella converted her chance in the top of the 10th round to win the shootout by a score of 8-7. 

Sydney Hess opened the scoring for Bucknell in the 67th minute on the only shot that got past freshman goalkeeper Bridget Carr, who made seven saves. Weaver's tying strike was a highlight-reel shot from distance that went off the far post and in with just 4:27 left in regulation. After two overtime periods, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Now on an eight-game unbeaten streak (4-0-4), the Terriers captured their first PL title since 2018 and will make their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. This marked the 14th conference tournament title in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU had three chances off its first corner kick in the 10th minute. Junior Margy Porta had her shot blocked, then Weaver lofted a shot that led to Benattar making a leaping save. Classmate Helene Tyburczy was then denied by Benattar on the second Terrier corner moments later.
• Carr made her first two saves in the 15th minute, turning aside Reese Evans' close-range try and then halting Temple on the next play.
• The Bison threatened when Teresa Deda poked a shot towards that deflected off a Terrier defender. Carr, who leapt anticipating the play, then slapped the ball away while lying on the ground in the 27th minute.
• Bucknell's Riley Hayes broke away from the BU back line, coaxing Carr out of the net in the 32nd minute. Carr halted the play after separating the ball from Hayes, but was issued a yellow card. The ensuing Bison free kick sailed over the crossbar.
• Igniting the second half, Tyburczy's free kick met junior Mackenzie Stickelman's head, and she flicked the ball on goal for a save from Benattar in the 48th minute.
• In the 62nd minute, junior Giulianna Gianino worked free from 25 yards out, but had her shot blocked.
• Bucknell took the initial lead in the 67th minute off a free kick that first met a Terrier boot, but Sydney Hess laced a shot from past 20 yards out that tapped off Carr's glove and into the net.
• Four minutes later, sophomore Ciara Kennedy found space to whip a 25-yard shot just over the woodwork from central.
• BU leveled the score with 4:27 left in regulation, when Weaver skied a 26-yard shot near the right sideline off the left post and in.
• The two teams only had one shot in the first overtime stanza. Carr corralled a shot from Deda, then sophomore Kat Slott's chance rolled wide left in the 99th minute.
• Carr was there on Evans' attempt in the 104th minute before each side had shots go wide in the final three minutes of the second overtime.
• In the shootout, BU raced out to a 3-1 lead off conversions from Gianino, sophomore Samantha Aronson, and senrio Hugrún Helgadóttir.
• The Bison came back to level it at 3-3 after five rounds.
• Each team potted its next four chances to send the shootout to the 10th round.
• Savella beat Benattar in the 10th round, then Braun denied Pressley Sutter with a crouching stop to her left to seal the championship.

STATS

• Bucknell ended up with a 15-10 edge in shots, including 8-5 on target.
• However, BU was up 7-5 in the former category from the first half onward.
• Gianino and Weaver were the lone Terriers to generate multiple shots.
• Each side recorded three corner kicks.
• Carr, Gianino, Stickelman, Tyburczy, graduate student Lily Matthews, and senior Allison Hanlon played the full 110 minutes.

NOTES

• BU's title is its 14th conference championship in program history, and fifth in the Patriot League.
• The 2024 championship, BU's first since 2018, occurred on the same day as its first Patriot League championship back on Nov. 10, 2013.
• Weaver was named the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player, joining Andrea Green, Kai Miller, Clare Pleuler, and Anna Heilferty as the five Terriers in program history to receive the honor.
• She, along with Matthews, Stickelman, and senior Morgan Fagan were selected to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
• The 86th-minute tally was Weaver's first career goal.
• BU halts Bucknell's Patriot League championship streak at three seasons. The Terriers had fallen to the Bison in three consecutive Patriot League Tournaments.
• With its 5-0-4 regular season record in the Patriot League and the conference tournament title, BU has now gone unbeaten against league foes in three separate seasons, last achieving the feat in 2018.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers earn the Patriot League's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament, and will make their 15th appearance in the Big Dance.
• BU will learn its opponent during the NCAA Selection Show, which airs on Monday (Nov. 11) at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com.

 
2024 Patriot League Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Morgan Weaver, Boston University, Jr., D – Most Valuable Player
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Sr., F
Lily Matthews, Boston University, Gr., M
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, Jr., M
Jess Benattar, Bucknell, Jr., GK
Sydney Hess, Bucknell, Jr., M
Laura Schmidt, Bucknell, Sr., D
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Sr., F
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Olivia Quaranta, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M