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Just like she has done so many times this season, Kia McNeill came through in the clutch yesterday.
It didn't matter that this time the stakes were higher. McNeill's goal in the 72nd minute gave the No. 23 Boston College women's soccer team (14-5-0, 7-4-0) a 1-0 victory over Georgetown (9-9-1, 5-5-1) in the Big East quarterfinal. It was freshman McNeill's team-leading ninth goal of the season, and it gives her a team-high 20 points.
"Kia didn't do much in the first half, but that's the sign of a great player," said head coach Alison Foley afterward. "They may be quiet the first half and in the second half, they can put the game on their shoulders and take care of business and score."
The first half was a wash for both teams. Georgetown outshot BC 4-2 in the first half, but the Eagle defense stepped up when it needed to.
"They were dangerous on their set pieces. They have a forward who can really drive the ball into the box," said Foley. "Lindsey McArdle cleared a lot of that by really getting out and playing the ball off her head."
Georgetown played a 4-5-1 defense that dropped back in the defensive zone and prevented the Eagles from getting into open space around the net. A shot from senior Laina Ceddia 15 minutes into the game was BC's best opportunity, but it sailed wide.
"[Georgetown] played four in the back," said McNeill. "They're all great defenders and really good in the air, so it was kinda tough to figure out a way to get by them."
After the quiet first half, BC spent halftime making adjustments that proved to be the difference in the game.
"I thought that the best thing we did was our adjustments that we needed to do from first half to second half," said Foley. The Eagles came to the ball away from the net and forced Georgetown to come play them. The strategy gave BC open space to move, and McNeill took advantage of that open space.
"Coach had told me to stay wide at halftime, so I got the ball wide, dribbled by the girl, and then cut in and I tried to have a shot," said McNeill. "We didn't have many shots this game."
"We knew that they'd be afraid to go at [McNeill] if she came away from goal, because she'd be facing up and that's exactly what she did," added Foley. "She came away, got the ball at her feet, and then she had some space to run at them and that's when she's at her best."
The Hoyas' best chance to tie the game was in the 85th minute. Georgetown's Karen Waskewich was awarded a free kick from the left side that was deflected toward the net by Casey McCann, but the shot clanked off the left post. Georgetown would not get a better opportunity during the rest of play.
The game was extra special for McNeill, who played her sister, Georgetown's Shara McNeill, for the first time.
"It was awesome just to see her," said BC's McNeill. "I haven't seen her in so long, and she's a great player."
BC will face Big East regular season champ Notre Dame in a rematch of last year's Big East semifinal.
Last season, BC defeated the Irish 2-1 in the semifinal match, but Notre Dame was impressive yesterday, disposing of St. John's 7-0.
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