Eagles feel right at home in their own nest, oust UConn from NCAA Tournament 2-0

UConn Assistant Coach Carey O'Brien with her children, Timmy and Casey, after the BC game. The Husky pups are two-and-a-half and eight months old. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.
NEWTON, Mass. - Home field will always be an advantage in the world of sports and never more so than in post-season play.
But in the case of the Boston College women’s soccer team, the artificial turf on their home field is so unique that opponents more often than not have trouble adjusting to the footing.
And this faux turf factor no doubt contributed to UConn’s 2-0 loss to the Eagles Sunday [Nov. 15] in an NCAA Tournament second-round game, finishing the season at 11-8-2.
“This is definitely a different surface than we’re used to playing on,” said fifth-year senior Jessica Diakun of Glastonbury.

Defensive stalwart Lauren Ebert and freshman Danielle Diakun, on the right, double team a BC player. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.
While Connecticut coach Len Tsantiris blamed the loss on his team’s inability to maintain ball possession in the striking zone, he did say the field turf played a role, as well.
“They [Boston College] have more of a home field advantage than most teams because of their turf; it’s hard to play on because you’re not used to it,” he said.
Only a handful of college playing fields employ this particular type of fake grass.
Tsantiris tried to acclimate the squad by practicing on a similar substance in Glastonbury prior to the tournament. “But it wasn’t enough,” he said.
In the end, unfamiliar field or not, the Huskies were simply dominated by BC, which scored more goals in the first half (one) than UConn had shots on goal (none).

Big East Defensive Player of the Year Brittany Taylor, who scored in the 1-0 win over Boston University Friday night, eyes the ball in hopes of duplicating her effort against BC. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.
“It was pretty clear we couldn’t keep the ball. Even our routine passes were off,” Tsantiris said.
Capitalizing on UConn’s mistakes
The Eagles scored 32 minutes into the first half, when Natalie Crutchfield fired a shot that found the lower left corner of the net.
They out-shot UConn 9-0 in the first half and 16-4 in the game - UConn’s fewest attempts of the season.
“We fought hard but in the end, that’s what happens,” Diakun said. “They’re a good team and they capitalized on our mistakes.”
And even when the Huskies weren’t making mistakes, BC came up one better.
UConn’s only legitimate shot on goal came early in the second half, when freshman Linda Ruutu sent a crisp pass to Simsbury’s Meghan Cunningham, who headed the ball toward the net, but BC goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni made a spectacular save to thwart the bid.
Freshman goalie pressed into play
Midway through the second half, the DiMartino sisters teamed up: high-scoring Victoria had her shot rejected by UConn goalie Ally Mancino, but Gina took her sister’s rebound and lobbed it in before the Huskies’ freshman goalkeeper could recover.

One of only four shots on goal by UConn against BC, the lowest total of the season for the Huskies. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.
Mancino was making only her third start of the season. She was pressed into service for the NCAA Tournament when the season-long starter Jessica Dulski was hospitalized for a severe bout of the flu. She had not recovered sufficiently enough to play in the tournament, according to Tsantiris.
Mancino gave a brilliant effort Friday night in the first-round game, shutting out Boston University 1-0, despite being nervous, which is to be expected by anyone making only their second start of the season in such a meaningful contest.
“I was a little nervous Friday [against BU], a little shaky in the first half,” she said after Sunday’s game.
“But today [against BC] I had more confidence. It seemed more natural out there,” said Mancino, who ended up with six saves against the Eagles.
UConn had previously been undefeated in 12 second-round games in the NCAA Tournament.
Posted Nov. 16, 2009

Seniors Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Jessica Diakun both wear 4's on their jerseys. Kwame and teammates Josh Ford, Andrew Hoffer and Shawn Nicklaw attended the BC match Sunday. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.

Defender Courtney Wilkinson-Maitland brings the ball down the field with Kacey Richards (23) trailing her. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.

Senior Lauren Ebert sails pass two Boston College defenders. Photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com.





















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