The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Women’s soccer undefeated at Parsons

One inch can mean the difference in a soccer game.

One inch is the difference between hitting the crossbar or scoring a goal. One inch is the difference between a shot wide or a goal. One inch is the difference between a sliding save or a goal.

The women’s soccer team has been playing a game of inches.

Sunday the Huskies (8-3-2, 4-1-1 CAA) took on Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent Georgia State at Parsons Field with their undefeated home record on the line. With the Panthers (3-8-3, 0-4-1 CAA) sitting at the bottom of the conference, what should have been an easy win for the third-place Huskies ended up being a battle. Northeastern won the game 1-0 with a goal from sophomore forward Jenna Lucchesi in the second half, but the Panthers had multiple opportunities to upset the Huskies. Lucchesi took two shots off the crossbar in the first half to lead an NU offense that outshot Georgia State 7-3.

“I think it is a lot better to have us missing close shots than the problem being that we aren’t shooting,” said head coach Ed Matz. “Our philosophy is, ‘If you get a chance, shoot.'”

Six minutes into the second half Lucchesi came off the bench to score, assisted by senior co-captain Siobhan Howard. Lucchesi’s shot deflected off the right post and into the net for her third goal of the season.

“Jenna [Lucchesi] and Liza Rebello have come off the bench to score a lot of goals for us,” Matz said. “They have very different styles of play so one will always match the opponents. On Sunday it was Jenna who was able to take advantage. She came off the bench and was instant offense.”

Howard nearly made it a 2-0 game just minutes later when her shot was tipped out of bounds by Panther’s keeper Megan Macdonald.

GSU nearly tied the game in the 66th minute when Tenisha Cohen shot on an empty net, but senior midfielder Jessie Haidamaka made a sliding save to kick the ball out of the goal.

Junior keeper Annie Petrofsky made four saves for her seventh shutout of the season.

On Friday the Huskies took on UNC Wilmington (9-4, 4-2 CAA) in another close, 1-0 win. The game was a physical match-up, with 25 fouls between the teams.

The Huskies outshot the Seahawks 21-7 but were only able to put one goal on the board. With two minutes left in the first half, junior defender Hannah Schindler scored after a scramble in front of the net. This was the only mistake the UNCW defense made all game.

Sophomore forward Caitlin Whelan narrowly missed goals early in the game, sending the ball just over the net twice.

Petrofsky put forth another solid game, with six saves.

“Annie is a very athletic goal keeper,” Matz said. “She has a different style than we are used to in that she is very good with her feet. Our defense is confident they can pass back to her and the ball will get knocked past half field. She keeps us in games with her athletic saves.”

The Huskies take on CAA leader Virginia Commonwealth (8-2-2, 4-0 CAA) Friday at 7 p.m. Northeastern is 0-1 all-time against VCU with a 3-0 loss last season.

More to Discover