Hofstra Up Next For Eagles In NCAA First Round

Photo by: John Quackenbos

Hofstra Up Next For Eagles In NCAA First Round

November 05, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Eagles-Pride in an NCAA showdown at 7.

By: Athletic Communications

No. 20 Boston College women's soccer team will host Hofstra in a first-round game of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 9 at the Newton Soccer Field (7 p.m.). The winner of the BC-Hofstra game will play the winner of the Memphis-Wisconsin game Nov. 16 in the second round of the tournament.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate. The game will be streamed live on the ACC Network Extra.

This is the 19th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the women's soccer program. Boston College has been to nine Sweet 16's, three Elite Eight's and of course the 2010 College Cup. It is the first trip back to the tournament since 2015.

The Eagles (14-4-1) have an RPI of 23 (Oct. 28), while the Hofstra (15-5-1, 6-2-1), which won the CAA Conference, has an RPI of 63.

Boston College was selected to finish 10^th in the ACC prior to the season. The Eagles went 6-3-1 in the conference and finished fourth. BC is one of 10 teams from the conference to earn an NCAA bid.

The Eagles are fourth in the ACC in scoring with 121 points and a 2.26 goals per game average. BC is 22^nd in the country in totals goals (43), 25^th in total points and 25^th in points per game.

BC's offense runs through sophomore Sam Coffey who led the conference in goals (12), assists (14) and points scored (38). She is third in the country in assists per game (0.74), first in totals assists (14), 28^th in goals (12) and fourth in total points (38).

Coffey was named the ACC's Midfielder of the Year and a member of the All-ACC first team for her stellar season.

BC's second leading scorer is junior Olivia Vaughn with a career-high nine goals, one assist for 19 points. Another threat up front is junior speedster Jenna Bike with one goal and five assists along with redshirt junior Gaby Carreiro (three goals, two assists).

Defensively the Eagles allowed just 12 goals and posted 10 shutouts this season. The team ranks 26^th in the country and third in the ACC goals against average (0.622) and 29^th in shutout percentage (0.526).

BC's defense starts with graduate senior Alexis Bryant in goal. She posted a career-low 0.65 GAA. In front of her is the back line of sophomore Mijke Roelfsema, sophomore Gianna Mitchell (five goals), senior Elysa Virella and All-ACC Freshman team honoree Kayla Duran. The two defensive midfielders are the Jennings sisters – redshirt junior Kayla (five goals) and sophomore Jillian (one goals, four assists).

BC and Hofstra have played four times. The Eagles lead the overall series, 4-0.

The first meeting took place in August of 2010, as the Eagles cruised to a 5-0 victory. In the NCAA Tournament that fall, BC defeated the Pride, 3-1.

The teams played in 2012 as the Eagles pulled out a 2-0 victory. In 2013 a wild game took place in New York. BC won in overtime, 6-5, behind a goal from McKenzie Meehan with just three minutes into the action.