McCaffrey leads BC Past Illinois St, 4-1

September 26, 2014

Norman, Ill. - Senior Stephanie McCaffrey recorded two goals and an assist to lead Boston College women's soccer past Illinois State, 4-1, on Sunday at Adelaide Street Field on Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game. The Eagles have now won five consecutive road games as they improved to 6-1 on the season. Illinois State is now 3-3 on the season.

"I thought this was the most complete game we have put together. Our back line and AJ (GK - Alexandra Johnson) did a great job managing a really dangerous offense player Rachel Tajada.''

McCaffrey scored the second goal of the match, which proved to be the game-winner and the fourth goal, on a great individual effort against two defenders to seal the win for the Eagles.

BC's streak began in Florida when the Eagles defeated both Jacksonville and North Florida. The Eagles came home and earned a 1-0 win over Northeastern. The team then headed to Wisconsin and defeated UW-Milwaukee on Friday night, 2-0, followed by today's 4-1 victory at Illinois State.

"The most impressive part of this accomplishment was it was our fifth game in nine days on the road. It's a tight knit group and they have a winning mentality,'' said Foley, about the winning streak.

Junior Jana Jeffrey actually got the Eagles on the board early. She gave BC a 1-0 lead at the 33rd minute mark on a 24 yard shot that went just under the crossbar. It was her first goal of the season.

McCaffrey almost gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead when she broke in off a beautiful through ball from Lauren Bernard. She broke away from the defense but slipped in the box. The shot was rolling towards the goal but a defender cleared the ball.

In the 20th minute of the match, McCaffrey struck for her third goal of the season. McCaffrey dribbled by two defenders and found herself in alone to the left of the keeper. She senior calmly slid the ball to the far post for a 2-0 BC lead.

No sooner did BC have a 2-0 lead, Illinois State struck for its first goal. Hannah Leinert scored off a deflection in the box to cut in the Eagles lead.

In the second half, Boston College seemed to be back on their heels as Illinois State was in attack mode. The first 15 minutes, the Red Birds had three solid chances but could not tie the match up.

BC's first attack in the second half resulted in a goal from Hayley Dowd for a 3-1 lead. McCaffrey drew three defenders and her shot was blocked from 18 yards out be the defense. Dowd cleaned up the loose ball, dribbled to her right and ripped a shot from 23-yards out into the top near post to the right of the keeper for a 3-1 lead.

McCaffrey's second goal of the game came when she received a long ball from Coco Woeltz and turned on two defenders. With both defenders on her left side, McCaffrey held them off and managed to chip the ball by a diving goalkeeper from seven yards out.

Senior Alexandra Johnson (6-1) earned the win with a season high eight saves.

The Eagles will next play Harvard on Friday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.