Women's Soccer Plays to Scoreless Tie

Ninety grueling minutes wasn’t enough. Neither were 20 more.

And after 110 minutes on the field, the Harvard women’s soccer team (2-3-2) and Boston University (6-1-1) wound up right where they started, playing to a scoreless tie.

In fact, the teams were about as even as it gets.

“We both had 14 shots on goal, and both teams had 7 corner kicks,” senior forward Alisha Moran said. “It was a pretty even match all the way around.”

The Crimson had scoring opportunities, but could not convert. In the second half, freshman midfielder Megan Merritt broke away and had a one-on-one opportunity with Terrier goalkeeper Christina Reuter. But Reuter attacked off the line and made a diving save to kill the attack.

Harvard had another chance with just 30 seconds left in regulation. Reuter was out of the play, but Terrier back Christina Kim knocked the shot away.

“Either team could have won that game,” junior goalkeeper Katie Shields said. ”And it would have been fair. It was frustrating, I think, for both sides.”

In the first overtime, junior midfielder Maile Tavepholjalern launched a shot, but missed to the left.

“After the game, the main message we took from it was that we played well, but we need to put the ball in the net,” Moran said. “We need individuals to step up. Take a risk. Take it to goal.”

Shields played the entire game in the net for the Crimson, receiving credit for three saves.

“I was definitely nervous, especially when overtime started,” Shields said. “All it takes is one goal. So it’s pressure, but it’s fun.”

Reuter played the second half and both overtimes in goal for BU, and Stephanie Dreyer tended for the first half. They each had three saves.

The scoreless game wrapped up a challenging preseason for women’s soccer, but served as a good omen for future play. The Terriers are the No. 2 in the NSCAA’s Northeast poll this week. They are ranked just behind first-ranked Yale, who the Crimson faces next weekend. Other Ivy foes include Dartmouth at third and Brown at eighth. Harvard did not make the top 10.

—Staff writer Carrie Petri can be reached at cpetri@fas.harvard.edu.