Boston College is back on its home field Thursday night, and the Eagles will try to shake off their first loss of the season when California comes to Newton Campus Soccer Field for a 6 p.m. ACC matchup.
BC’s 8-1-0 start took its first hit Friday night in a 4-0 defeat at No. 17 Notre Dame, but the Eagles still come in with plenty to like about the body of work so far.
They’ve gone 1-1-0 in conference play, scored 26 goals across nine games and allowed just nine. The loss in South Bend also ended an eight-game winning streak to open the year.
Against Notre Dame, Boston College still generated chances, finishing with 15 shots and six on goal while earning five corner kicks. Olivia Shippee turned in a season-high eight saves.
The Eagles’ attack has been rolling all season, and the numbers show it. BC is averaging 2.89 goals per game, has put up 157 shots and 62 shots on target, and has spread the scoring around with goals from eight different players.
Nicollette Kiorpes leads the way with six goals and 12 points. Sophie Reale has four goals and five assists for 13 points, Emily Mara has four goals and four assists for 12 points, and Addyson Kalaw has added five goals and one assist for 11 points.
Boston College has also piled up 23 assists and 64 corner kicks, a sign of how consistently it has pressed the action.
The Eagles are also sitting at No. 11 in the latest NCAA women’s soccer RPI rankings, and they’re one of seven ACC teams in the top 25.
California arrives with a 2-4-4 overall record and a 0-2-1 mark in ACC play. The Golden Bears are coming off a 1-1 draw with Louisville on Sept. 20, their first conference draw of the season. Their other results include wins over Loyola Marymount and Columbia, plus draws against California Baptist, Santa Clara and Cal Poly.
Through 10 games, Cal has scored seven goals and allowed 12. The Golden Bears are averaging 9.9 shots per game and have earned 45 corner kicks.
Miriam Hils leads the team with two goals and four points, while Elhom Khursand also has four points on one goal and two assists. Soleil Dimry, Reese Doherty, Annamarie Williams and Amelie Hoppe have each scored once.
Alyssa Savig has appeared in seven games in goal and owns a .737 save percentage.
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the programs, and California holds the edge at 2-0-2. The teams most recently played to a scoreless draw on Sept. 28, 2025, in Berkeley.
Boston College is 0-1-1 at home against the Golden Bears and 0-0-1 on the road. Their first meeting came on Sept. 18, 1986, when California won 3-2 in Newton.
BC stays on the road after Thursday, heading to Clemson on Sunday, Sept. 27, for a 1 p.m. ACC matchup.
In Other News...
Boston College Faces An Early ACC Test With One Defensive Concern
Boston College is heading into its ACC opener with a quick chance to learn where it stands, hosting a Virginia Tech team that arrives at 3-0 and has already shown it can move the ball through the air. The Hokies passing attack has been a real strength early, with Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer settling in and tight end Luke Reynolds emerging as a dependable target, which makes this a useful first conference test for an Eagles defense still trying to establish its rhythm.
The challenge for Boston College gets a little sharper with one piece of the secondary unavailable, leaving the Eagles to adjust on the back end while hoping to keep pressure coming from the edge. The good news is that both starting EDGE rushers are expected to play, giving Boston College a chance to lean on its front and make Virginia Tech earn everything in a game that should offer an early read on how ready the Eagles are for ACC play. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Faces Its First Real ACC Test Against Virginia Tech
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Bill OBrien has already framed the matchup in the terms Boston College fans would expect from a coach preparing for a measuring-stick game. Virginia Tech has looked explosive through its first three outings, and the Hokies bring the size, speed and coaching consistency that make them a difficult first conference opponent. For Boston College, the question is less about the challenge itself than how well it can answer it when the stakes rise and the ACC slate begins. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Is Walking Into A Very Different Virginia Tech Offense
Bill OBrien and James Franklin know each other well enough to appreciate the kind of program-building job both men have been asked to do at Boston College and Virginia Tech. OBriens track record includes helping stabilize Penn State in a difficult stretch before moving on to the NFL, while Franklin has done similar work at Vanderbilt and Penn State before landing in Blacksburg. Now their paths cross again with both programs trying to keep moving forward in their own way.
The matchup matters because Virginia Tech no longer looks like the same offense Boston College might remember from Franklins earlier stops. The Hokies are getting cleaner, more efficient play through the air and have turned that side of the ball into a real calling card, which means Boston College will have to prepare for a version of Virginia Tech that can stress a defense in different ways than it has in the past. How BC handles that shift could say plenty about where OBriens team stands against a confident, well-defined opponent. [Read more 🡒]