Nov. 15, 2007

Listen Live | NCAA Game Notes

BOSTON - The Boston University women's soccer team will make the short trip to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to take on fourth-seeded Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, Nov. 16 at 4:00 p.m. Friday's first-round game will be the Terriers' sixth - and third consecutive - appearance in the NCAA tournament after earning the America East's automatic bid on Saturday with their 2-1 win over New Hampshire.

NCAA POSTSEASON HISTORY: The Terriers are making their sixth NCAA trip in their 13-year history. It is the third straight appearance - the longest streak in program history.

BU has a 2-5 record in the tourney, reaching the second round in both 2000 and 2005.

In 2005, BU made it to the second round via a 1-0 win over Northeast rival Connecticut. Ashley LoCasale provided BU with the game-winning goal. The win came on UConn's home turf in Storrs, Conn. BU lost to Boston College, 1-0, in the next round. The Terriers also made it to the second round in 2000, but dropped a 4-1 decision to Dartmouth.

Last year, the Terriers earned the program's first-ever at-large bid, but lost, 3-0 to long-time rival Boston College.

In each of their appearances in the NCAA tournament, the Terriers have only faced Northeast opponents, as BU has played Holy Cross, Dartmouth, Rutgers, UConn, Northeastern and Boston College in each of its NCAA games. Friday's game will be the Terriers' first against a school outside of the region.

AMERICA EAST POSTSEASON HISTORY: In 13 years as a varsity program, BU has won five America East Championships, including four of the last seven titles, and is 10-4-2 in post-season conference action, following Saturday's win.

SERIES HISTORY: Friday's meeting will be the first meeting between Boston University and Wake Forest.

BU VS. THE ACC: The only other Atlantic Coast Conference opponent the Terriers have faced is Boston College and they are 4-8 all-time against the Eagles. Since BC joined the ACC before the 2005 season, BU is 1-3. The two rivals met twice in 2005 and 2006 - once in the season openers and once in the NCAA tourney. This year, the Eagles claimed a slim 1-0 victory on Sept. 12.

SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS: No. 18 Wake Forest finished second in the ACC with a 6-2-2 conference mark. They fell to Florida State in the semifinals by a 5-2 margin, after defeating Duke, 1-0, in overtime.

Jill Hutchinson is the Demon Deacons top offensive threat with 10 goals and two assist for 22 points. Laura Morse and Amanda Barasha have split time in net this season and Morse has earned a 0.97 goals-against average, while Barasha owns a 1.04 GAA.

LAST TIME OUT: Junior Jennifer Herman scored a timely first goal of the season and sophomore Emily Pallotta tallied the eventual game-winner in the Terriers' 2-1 win over New Hampshire in the America East Women's Soccer Championship title game on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Durham, N.H. Senior netminder Christina Reuter made five saves in net and earned her seventh win of the season. Sophomore Casey Brown was named the Championship's Most Outstanding Player, and she was joined on the All-Championship team by Pallotta, senior Lauren Basham and junior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge.

HOLD THE LINE: A strong defense has be a hallmark for BU over the past two seasons. This year the back line has stuck with that trademark stinginess, allowing no more than two goals in a single game, and allowing multiple goals only once - No. 5 Stanford in the season opener. Since that game on Aug. 31, BU has allowed just 10 goals in 19 games and shutout nine opponents - six in conference action. BU had shut down opponents' offense for 481:32 consecutive minutes, dating back to Oct. 18 vs. Hartford and ending at New Hampshire on Nov. 10. The Terriers' shutout percentage ranks 38th in the country (0.50).

TERRIERS IN THE NATIONAL RANKS: Christina Reuter currently ranks second in the nation in save percentage (.899) and 17th in goals-against average (0.56). As a team, the Terriers are secon in save percentage (.903) and 12th in GAA (0.529).