Veterans Use Experience Against Marist

The inexperienced Marist Red Foxes were no match for the expert Boston College women's soccer team in their debut NCAA tournament appearance. The Eagles have been in the tournament for nine straight seasons and ended Marist's short-lived postseason play Sunday afternoon with a 6-1 victory in Newton.

"We worked a lot on our finishing and getting numbers forward, and we did a really good job with that," head coach Alison Foley said. "We had six brilliant goals, all very different in nature, and ultimately at this time of the year, you want to be able to score with different people in a different fashion."

Last season, the Eagles made it to the College Cup in Cary, N.C., and judging by their performance against the Red Foxes, they have demonstrated just how hungry they are for another run at the national title.

From the opening whistle, the Eagles came out relaxed and confident in their play, prepared for the postseason after a two-week break following a rigorous season of ACC play. The team scored three of its six goals in the first half, and the rest in the second, with finishes coming from five different players representing all four graduating classes.

The first goal came from junior forward Victoria DiMartino, who led BC's offensive surge during the Eagles' tournament run last season. She paced the Eagles with 14 goals last year, contributing a tally in the NCAA opening round game against the Eagles' B-line rivals, Boston University, and another in the team's Sweet 16 game against West Virginia.

"The first goal is very important in a game," DiMartino said. "To come out in the first 20 minutes and get that goal and say, ‘OK, we can settle down now,' and play how we play is pressure off our backs. We can play settled down and find our rhythm instead of rushing and trying to get that goal."

Another hardened veteran, Kristie Mewis, built the lead by adding the second goal on a set piece. This was an aspect of BC's game that Foley had designated as an area of improvement during this week's training. Senior Julia Bouchelle added the third, and final, goal of the half.

The experience of the upperclassmen players not only allowed them to shine on an individual level, but as a team as well. The ability for the players with more experience to influence the younger Eagles led to a strong and relaxed performance, playing "their" soccer.

"We just know to focus on one game at a time," DiMartino said. "Don't focus on any other game or any other team, just focus on the game that is coming next or the game that we have today. Having seniority over the younger girls, calming them down and telling them to play how they play is really good for them, and it will help us."

The underclassmen drew off the calming wisdom from the older, returning players. Sophomore Gibby Wagner finished two second-half goals, while freshman Stephanie McCaffrey contributed one of her own to secure the Eagles' victory.

The confidence bred from experience was also visible in goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni, who was only tested once in the 45 minutes she played but remained poised in a dangerous situation. Her resilience in the back resonates in the strong BC defenders and onwards through the team's dominant midfield.

The seasoned veterans have punched their ticket to the next round and will fly to the West Coast to take on the California Golden Bears. Drawing off years of knowledge and experience in the NCAA tournament, BC's victory over the young Red Foxes emphasizes the team's advantage in the area of experience and proves that the Eagles are a formidable opponent when they play their brand of soccer.