Oct. 28, 2007

Box Score

BOSTON - The Boston University women's soccer team used a goal in each half to earn a share of the America East regular-season title and a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament with a 2-0 victory over Binghamton on Sunday afternoon at Nickerson Field. Sophomore Casey Brown netted the game winner in the 34th minute, and junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge scored off a restart in the 71st minute, as the Terriers improve to 9-6-3 overall and 6-1-1 in the America East. Binghamton falls to 3-11-3 overall and 2-5-1 in conference play.

Brown (Natick, Mass.) netted the game-winning goal at 33:18 off a corner kick taken by Schumacher-Hodge (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Brown one-timed it into the back of the net on a side volley. The Terriers have been dangerous all season long on the set pieces, this one was no exception as Brown picked up her fourth goal of the season and Schumacher-Hodge earned her sixth assist.

Schumacher-Hodge sealed the victory for the Terriers with a goal of her own at 70:38 off a restart. Stepping up to take the free kick, Schumacher-Hodge sent a perfectly placed shot into the upper corner, which Binghamton goalie Jen McEachron could not do anything about.

Reuter earned her fourth shutout of the season with a four-save effort. Reuter made a spectacular stop early in the second half that she was able to get a hand on and push off the cross bar and preserve the shutout.

The Terriers came out controlling possession and moving the ball around early in the first half. Junior Jennifer Herman (Oceanside, N.Y.) nearly got the Terriers on the board in the 11th minute, but McEachron came off her line to snuff the attempt. Reuter made a diving save nine minutes later that stopped Kim Povill's rocket to the left corner.

The Terriers offensive pressure paid off in the 34th minute when Brown netted her fourth goal of the season off Schumacher-Hodge's long loft on the corner kick. For the remainder of the half, BU continued to go forward and got off a couple of attempts, and on the other end of the field, the back line remained steady allowing just three shots.

To start the second half, Reuter came up with a shutout-preserving save on a high loft from Povill that was going just under the cross bar, however, Reuter pushed it high enough for it to ricochet off the cross bar.

Binghamton had a golden opportunity in the 55th minute when Povill went in one-on-one with Reuter. As Reuter came off her line, Povill sailed the shot wide left.

The BU defense continued to be rock steady, crashing in and stopping any breakaway chances. Senior Lauren Basham (Lake Oswego, Ore.) nearly lit up the scoreboard when she sent a hard-hit strike towards the goal that hit the cross bar in the 70th minute. Schumacher-Hodge found the back of the net a few minutes later from outside the 18-yard box for her third goal of the season.

BU will enter the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed behind New Hampshire and play the winner of the Binghamton-Hartford game on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Terriers will host the contest at noon.