Aug. 23, 2008

Boston, MA -

BC-BU Box Score

Freshman Julia Bouchelle scored her first collegiate goal to lead Boston College past rival Boston University, 1-0, in the season opener for both teams at Nickerson Field. The Eagles are 1-0 and lead the head-to-head series vs. the Terriers, 9-4.

No. 14 Boston College will play its next two games on the road as the Eagles will travel to California to play both Oregon State (Aug. 29) and Stanford (Aug. 31).

The Eagles struck in the 32nd minute when Brianna Wilson-Byrne found Gina DiMartino outside the box to the right of the BU goalkeeper Janie Reilly. DiMartino cut away from one defender and then sent a nice soft pass to Bouchelle. The Eagles freshman midfielder blasted the shot to the far post past a diving BU goalkeeper for a 1-0 Eagles le.

DiMartino, who led the Eagles in assists with five in 2007, was active all night as she almost gave BC a lead in the seven minute mark. DiMartino broke in with a defender on her side and tried the place the ball by Reilly. The BU keeper came out to cut down the angle on DiMartino and kept the game tied 0-0. DiMartino another chance from just inside the box to the far post but Reilly came up big again for BU at the 19 minute mark.

In the second half, BC's Brooke Knowlton had a great chance just one minute into play but Reilly was there again. Bouchelle almost earned her second goal of the game on a shot just outside the box in the 54th minute of the game. Reilly kept BU in the game with the save.

BU mounted a late offensive charge as Farrell McClernon had two great chances with 20 minutes to play. BC's freshman goalkeeper Jillian Mastrioanni cut down the angle on the first chance causing the shot to go wide and then smothered the second chance. Mastroianni saved the shutout with a big stop off a hard shot to the upper corner by MArisha Schumacher-Hodge with nine minutes to play in the game.

Mastroianni, who had three saves, earned her first career victory, while Reilly finished with eight saves for BU. Boston College won the battle of the shots, 13-5. The Eagles also had five corner kicks to BU's two.

GAME NOTES:
The win tonight gives BC head coach Alison Kulik 140 career victories at Boston College. She is now 140-72-21 ... Freshman goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni and freshman midfielder Julia Bouchelle earns starts in their collegiate debuts. Two other freshmen - Alaina Beyar and Stephanie Wirth - also earned playing time in the first game ... Sophomore Chelsea Regan earned a start on defense.