Women's Soccer Shut Out At Home By Rhody
September 22, 2002 | Women's Soccer
| Game Stats | Season Stats |
The Terrier women's soccer team continued its early-season scoring woes on Sunday, dropping a 2-0 decision to the University of Rhode Island at Nickerson Field. Through the first seven games of the season, the Terriers have scored just seven goals.
In Sunday's match, the University of Rhode Island got second-half goals from Heather and Melanie Kasparek, while Jamie Epperlein turned aside all six Terrier shots. In the meantime, Terrier junior goalkeeper Jessica Clinton (Valley Stream, NY) had five saves.
The loss dropped B.U's record to 3-3-1, and it ended a 10-game unbeaten home streak. Dating back to last September 9th when the Terriers defeated the University of Buffalo, 2-1, at Nickerson Field, and continuing through a 1-0 win over the University of Maine last Tuesday night (September 17th), the Terriers had posted a 9-0-1 record at home.
It also ended a three-match winning streak the Terriers had over Rhode Island. The last time Rhode Island had defeated B.U. was on October 24, 1994. B.U. still leads the overall series between the two teams, 3-2.
For Rhode Island, its record improved to 5-2-1 and concluded a very successful weekend, as the Rams edged ninth-ranked Auburn, 2-1, on Friday night (September 20th).
After a scoreless first half, the Rams got the only goal they would need in the 53rd minute of action when Heather Kasparek collected a corner kick from Claire Landon just to Clinton's left. Kasparek shot the ball just past the outstretched arms of Clinton, and Rhody had a lead it would never relinquish.
Melanie Kasparek, who had both goals in the win over Auburn on Friday night to increase her team-leading total to six goals, added an insurance goal in the 84th minute. Again, it was Landon who set up the goal when she sent Kasparek in on Clinton. Kasparek, who received the ball from about 35 yards out, dribbled the ball past a Terrier defender. Her shot, from just outside the box, went to Clinton's right to close out the scoring.
"Right now, we are just not playing well as a unit," lamented Terrier head coach Nancy Feldman after the match. "In previous years, we always played well together. But, for some reason, we are just not on the same page right now.
"It's not that we are selfish," the coach continued. "We are just not thinking the same way. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask 'What can I do better to help our team?' I also have to look at myself and see what I can do better to get this team ready to play.
"We need to be more consistent and focused on what needs to be done," Feldman went on. "It doesn't matter that today wasn't a conference game. Every game is meaningful, and right now we are underachieving."
Realizing the Terriers have lacked a scoring punch this year, Feldman tried some different combinations up front and substituted players freely. Unfortunately, the Terriers were not able to mount many scoring opportunities. Defensively, against Rhode Island, the coach went to individual coverage rather than zone coverage on situations such as corner kicks. Ironically, the Rams' first goal came on a corner kick, as a Terrier defender did not pick up Heather Kasparek.
"One player got beat and they scored on it," the coach said.
The Terriers and their coach will try to regroup by Thursday when B.U. hosts Colorado College at 7:00 p.m.
"Right now, I have to work on changing the team's mindset," said Feldman. "That's my job as the coach."
| Team | FirstHalf | Second Half | Total |
| Rhode Island (5-2-1) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Boston University (3-3-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistics | | |
| Saves | Jessica Clinton, B.U., 5 | Jamie Epperlein (URI), 5 |
| Corner Kicks | B.U., 3 | Rhode Island, 5 |
| Shots | B.U., 12 | Rhode Island, 12 |
| Scoring |
| URI-Heather Kasparek (Claire Landon), 52:07; URI-Melanie Kasparek (Landon), 83:45 |
