BC moves on to Big East semifinal

NEWTON - Boston College needs to thank Harvard. Thanks to the hard work and impeccable timing of Harvard transfer Beth Totman, the women's soccer team advanced to the Big East semifinals. The Eagles', who advanced with a 2-1 win over the Rutgers' Scarlet Knights, will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Earlier in the week, a scheduled game against Brown had been rained out, so the Eagles had an entire week to prepare for their first postseason game.

On Sunday, the Eagles stepped onto the field at Newton Campus with a 13-2-2 record (3-2-1 Big East), the second seed in the northeast division of the Big East, and the determination and confidence to win. The Scarlet Knights came into the game with a 10-5-4 record overall (3-2-1 Big East), and the third seed in the mid-atlantic division of the Big East.

The game took place on what seemed to be the perfect day for a soccer game, despite a few scattered clouds. The weather was not on the side of either team, because for most of the first half and some of the second, wind and pouring rain hindered the play of both the Eagles and the Scarlet Knights.

The teams continued to place pressure on each other early on, indicating that the game would be intensely emotional and physical. Earlier in the season, they had played to a scoreless tie, and it was obvious that both teams were out for vindication and the win.

Each team fought to be the dominant team, but between the weather and extremely physical nature of the game, it was difficult for either team to play in a composed manner. It seemed that the two teams were struggling to create scoring opportunities. Rutgers was the first to capitalize and score, taking advantage of the lapse in the Eagles' defense. In the 20th minute, Rutgers' Kelly Evans shot the ball past goalkeeper Kate Taylor, putting the Scarlet Knights up 1-0. The Eagles quickly retaliated, tying up the game six minutes later. Beth Totman sent a cross to forward Katie McGregor, who was waiting at the far post to volley the ball right past the Rutgers goalkeeper Robyn Jones.

McGregor later described the shot that would change the momentum of the game.

"Beth [Totman] crossed the ball on the ground from the left side, and it skipped through the box. I was on the far post, beat a defender and shot it low in the near corner. The goalkeeper couldn't do anything [about the shot]."

Going into halftime, the score was 1-1, and it seemed that a victory was up in the air for both teams as either could create the momentum to propel them to victory. During halftime and in the second half, the Eagles were sure that the win was in their hands.

"Going into the second half, we were all confident that it was our game," said junior goalkeeper Elyse Meredith.

Head coach Alison Foley agreed with Meredith. "We played a different system, with three forwards instead of two, and it was a different defense that called for Rutgers to adapt. We had a good training session yesterday and were sure that it was a matter of time before we could get the job done," she said.

Getting the job done was exactly what the Eagles were determined to do. Even though Rutgers kept finding holes in the Eagles' defense, goalkeeper Kate Taylor kept the Eagles in the game. She made clutch saves in crucial moments of the game, and even stopped a few Rutgers break-away situations.

Assistant coach Chris Hamblin praised Taylor for her role in the game. "Kate was very confident and made great decisions in the game. Her distribution and concentration was very key in the win."

With the defense anchored by Taylor in the second half, it was now time for the offensive spark. The Eagles again can attribute the goal to the unstoppable duo of Totman and McGregor.

Late in the second half, McGregor crossed the ball to Totman, who was waiting about 30 yards out from the goal in the center of the field. With no hesitation, Totman sent a rocket straight to the upper right hand corner of the goal. The ball hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the goal in the 86th minute, making the score 2-1.

McGregor praised Totman's efforts, describing the shot by saying, "It was amazing ... it was beautiful."

With only about three minutes left, the Eagles had the advantage and the momentum.

Rutgers scrambled and actually came somewhat close to tying up the game on a corner kick, but the Eagles defense cleared the ball to run down the clock. As the final whistle blew, the team celebrated in the middle of the field.

Foley summed up the team's jubilation with one word: "elated."