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Smurthwaite's Goal Lifts Women's Soccer To Conference Title Game
 Katie Smurthwaite picked the perfect time to score her first goal of the season. It came in the second overtime to lift the Terriers past Delaware in the America East tournament Sophomore Katie Smurthwaite (West Hartford, CT) scored her first goal of the season at 106:13 to lift the Terrier women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over the University of Delaware in the semifinals of the America East Tournament that was played at B.U.'s Nickerson Field on Friday night (November 9th). The victory sends the top-seeded Terriers into the conference title game at noon on Sunday (November 11th) against second-seeded Hartford. The Hawks needed three overtimes to dispose of third-seeded Hofstra, 1-0. Their game lasted 128 minutes, 10 seconds. Smurthwaite's goal was set up on a throw-in by Terrier captain Teresa Petruccelli (Flushing, NY). Her toss found junior Suzanne Hudak (Harleysville, PA) just outside the 18-yard box. Hudak then served the ball to Smurthwaite, who was about 12 yards from the goal. She turned and headed the ball to the upper right hand corner of the goal that beat Delaware keeper Andrea Lunn. The win improved the Terriers' overall record to 13-5-1, while Delaware ended its season at 10-8-1. The game started as if it would be a blowout for the Terriers, as they scored what appeared to be two goals in the opening minutes of the game. However, the first goal was disallowed as it was judged that a B.U. player was offside. Then, the second goal was called off when the official said the ball did not cross the goal line. During the first 45 minutes, the Terriers dominated play as they outshot the Blue Hens, 14-2. "I don't think we have played a better first half all year," Terrier head coach Nancy Feldman said after the game. "We were moving the ball well and making good decisions. "Even though we hadn't scored, I told the players at halftime that we were going to follow the same plan in the second half,' the coach went on. B.U. continued to control play, outshooting Delaware, 9-1, in the second half, but Feldman was not happy with how her team played in the half. "I thought we were sluggish," said the coach. "We stopped moving the ball, and we just didn't keep possession. "But, we managed to get it back in the overtime," said the coach. "You have to give Delaware credit," Feldman went on. "They fought hard, but we were determined." Certainly, one of the most determined players was Smurthwaite. "This was one of the finest games she has played this year," said the coach. "She is very talented and a hard worker, and it was great to see that it finally paid off for her tonight." The Terriers finished the game outshooting Delaware by a 30-4 margin but both teams had seven corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clinton (Valley Stream, NY) had to make just one save en route to registering her seventh shutout of the season. The win improved her record to 13-5-1. In the meantime, Delaware's Lunn had 10 saves in the Blue Hen goal. Sunday afternoon's game against Hartford will be a rematch of the last two America East title games. Hartford won the match in 1999, 2-1, while the Terriers came back to win last year's game, 4-1.
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