WEST POINT, N.Y. – Three goals from three seniors, including the game-winning tally from Giulianna Gianino, powered the Boston University women’s soccer program to a 3-2 victory over Army West Point on Wednesday evening at Malek Stadium.
BU (4-4-3, 1-1-1 PL) quickly established a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game, only for the Black Knights (7-4-1, 1-2-0 PL) to level the score with two tallies in the second half. However, junior Ava Maguire found Gianino to seal the result for the Terriers’ first conference win of the season.
Gianino finished with three points while classmates Mackenzie Stickelman and Margy Porta also found the back of the net. Sophomore goalkeeper Bridget Carr made five saves.
Brigid Duffy and Megan Youngberg recorded goals to pace the Army offense. Karalyn Dail notched four saves between the posts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU earned a free kick just over three minutes into the contest. Gianino sent the ball towards the right post, where Dail made an initial stop before Stickelman potted the rebound.
- Porta was fouled to the right of Army West Point’s box moments later. Gianino tapped the free kick to Porta, who turned for a blast into the lower-left corner 91 seconds later for a 2-0 Terrier edge.
- Junior Ava Maguire nearly extended the lead to three goals in the 16th minute after filtering through the Black Knights’ back line, but Dail poked away her left-footed try towards the leading of the box.
- Duffy was denied three consecutive times in the 19th minute. Carr came out of net to deflect the first chance. Army regained possession for a Duffy header that ringed off the left post. Duffy settled for a third opportunity, but Carr crouched down to trap the ball on the turf.
- In the 25th minute, senior Helene Tyburczy denied Army on the goal line from a corner kick before Carr lined up Grace Burns’ flick. In transition, Maguire fired off a shot that was narrowly wide left.
- In the final minute before halftime, Carr redirected Cami Silvestro’s 35-yard rocket over the crossbar. The Black Knights were off target on two shots from a pair of ensuing corners.
- Stickelman and sophomore Olivia Avellar ignited the second half with shots, where Dail snagged a crouching slash on the latter chance.
- Army slashed the deficit in half in the 55th minute as Youngberg lifted a ball from the right corner over an outstretched Carr and into the back of the net.
- Duffy found the equalizer in the 64th minute, leaving off her marker by the leading-left corner of the box and deking right to beat Carr for the tally.
- The Terriers had two opportunities nail iron in the 69th and 72nd minutes. Porta’s blast atop the box beat Dail but ricocheted off the right post, then junior Samantha Aronson flicked a chance through a scrum near the left post. However, it tapped along the woodwork.
- BU broke through afterwards when Maguire dashed by a defender and skied her cross over a leaping Dail. Gianino finished the play with her right foot.
- The Black Knights threatened in the 77th minute when Sabrina Rogers found space for a right-footed shot, but Carr squatted to scoop up the shot.
STATS
- Both teams combined for 40 shots, with Army West Point sporting a 25-15 edge and 8-7 in shots on target.
- Stickelman, Porta, Gianino and Maguire had 12 of BU’s chances.
- Corner kicks also favored the Black Knights, 8-7.
- Army was assessed two yellow cards in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
- Carr, Gianino, Stickelman, Tyburczy, senior Morgan Weaver and freshman Nina Tzouganatos played the full 90 minutes.
NOTES
- Stickelman registered her third goal of the season, all coming off set pieces. Her three tallies match her career best.
- Porta scored her first goal since the game winner against Army West Point in last year’s Patriot League semifinal contest on Nov. 7, 2024. She has three career tallies against the Black Knights.
- Gianino moved into eighth place in program history with 61 career points. Her team-leading fifth goal of the campaign is also her second game winner.
- Maguire today has two assists in her last three appearances and three in her Terrier tenure.
- Carr is 6-0-5 in the regular season against Patriot League opponents.
- BU improves to 11-3-2 in the all-time series vs. Army. One goal has decided the last seven matchups.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers return to Nickerson Field to host Lafayette for its Pride Game on Saturday (Oct. 4). Opening kick is slated for 1 p.m.
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