By Akshai Wadhwani
BOSTON, MA – The first phrase that comes to mind, when reviewing the Boston University women’s soccer team’s Thursday night slate against West Virginia, is utter demolishment.
Thanks to goals from Alina Stahl and Sh’Nia Gordon and an additional brace supplied by Stefany Ferrer-Van Ginkel, the Mountaineers handed the Terriers a 4-0 thrashing. In doing so, they became the first team to put that many goals past a Scarlet and White keeper since BU’s 6-0 loss to then sixth-ranked Penn State in the second round of the 2015 NCAA tournament.
The real standout statistic, however, lies in the final shot count. West Virginia notched a 27-0 advantage—a figure less akin to pouring salt in the wound than to popping off the cap and emptying in the entire contents of the shaker.
No threatening attempts from superstar Anna Heilferty, nor from goalscoring forwards Lauren Adelman and Kelly Harris, nor from recent standout Taylor Kofton. The Mountaineer defense locked away every one of BU’s offensive outlets, then threw away the key.
BU did manage a pair of corner kicks—though hopelessly overshadowed by West Virginia’s ten.
Head coach Nancy Feldman utilized all three of her available goalkeepers during the match; freshman Morgan Messner completed the first forty-five minutes, before being replaced by sophomore Amanda Fay and eventually junior Emma Heil—making her third career appearance—in the second half. The trio’s united effort produced eight saves.
BU remains scoreless for what is now three matches running. Having contested two Big Ten giants (Michigan and Michigan State) and an ACC mainstay (Boston College)—with very close results—earlier this season, the 4-0 outcome represents the first time in 2018 that the Terriers have been genuinely outclassed by a nonconference opponent. Not exactly a wonderful time for that to finally occur, given that it comes just three days before their first Patriot League match of the campaign.
Next Up: The Terriers round out their three-game road trip by beginning Patriot League play in the nation’s capital, facing American in a noontime fixture on Sunday.
WTBU Sports 