One lesson that sports fans have learned is that one all-star cannot win a championship all by him or herself. It may sound cliché, but winning a championship does require a full-team effort.
The 2004 Boston University women’s soccer team (4-1-0) is a combination of everything that every general manager or coach salivates over: youth, talent, speed and strong will. Best of all, this is a team without large egos or disrespectful antics. When a goal is scored, there are no Sharpies pulled out to sign the ball, or no jubilant dances – just a high-five and another kick-off to defend.
This is the story of high school phenoms and All-Americans who have left their awards at home and have become part of a system that incorporates each individual’s talents blended to form the perfect union.
On the offensive side, BU has three hungry Terriers who only need a glimmer of light to get a shot off. Junior Melissa Shulman has been called the team’s “sniper” by head coach Nancy Feldman, as she is always around the ball and can find the back of the net with ease.
Alongside Shulman is junior Meghann Cook, whose eyes light up every time she’s close to the goal. She has a close relationship with the net and has instilled a sense of fear in the goaltenders, as they know that once she has a good look, she’s going to be tough to stop.
Cook leads the Terriers in goals (three), assists (two) and total points (eight), making an early push for the team’s MVP.
“She certainly makes timely goals,” Feldman said of Cook. “Mentally, she has that attitude of ‘just go for it,’ which has taken pressure off Shulman in the scoring department.”
Sophomore Lauren Erwin, the third forward, is healthy again after missing a game with back problems. While there are teams with scoring duos, few teams will have this dynamic of a trio up front. Erwin leads the team with shots on goal (13) and has risen in clutch situations for the Terriers (see: the game-winning penalty kick in the America East Championship last year against the University of Maine or the team’s lone goal in a 1-0 win over Boston College this year).
“She is a very good player,” Feldman said. “She has a tremendous determination to get chances. She digs for opportunities and not only creates things for herself, but for others as well. Her attitude is just terrific and it’s been contagious.”
This powerful offense produced 30 shots on goal against Oakland University, and Feldman even referred to the arsenal of shots as “frustrating” because there were so many opportunities, and yet only three found their way past the keeper.
While these three players may end up in the boxscore more often than any others may, Feldman has called junior back Brittany McDonald, an All-Northeast player last year, and junior midfielder Brooke Bingham, an All-New England player a year ago, the most consistent players so far this season.
McDonald has anchored the defense and Bingham has done everything asked on both sides of the field. While they may not get credit for saves or goals, these two are just as responsible for saving a goal or creating one.
As strong as the defense as been, when shots go off, the Terrier goalkeepers have had work to do, and the two keepers have cleaned up the garbage. After Jessica Clinton graduated last May, the Terriers lacked experience in the goalkeeping department, and Feldman has handed over the reigns to sophomore Stephanie Dreyer and freshman Christina Reuter.
This tandem has been able to get some much-needed game experience during this run of success, and both players have gained confidence and begun to grow into their roles.
Coming off the bench and even starting, the Terriers have talented youth in sophomore Paula Muniz and freshmen Nicole Lucey and Lauren Basham.
“If the freshmen continue to play well and take some pressure off our returning players and allow them to get some breaks, we know we can play with the likes of [the University of] Michigan,” Feldman said. “Physically, we are up to that level.”
Despite the 3-0 loss to Michigan on Sunday, Feldman saw the determination in her team and the fires that will make this team a major contender in the NCAA tournament.
The Terriers came out sluggish in the first half against the Wolverines, falling behind 2-0, but in the second half, BU looked like a completely different team, playing more aggressively and continuing to fire at will against the Michigan net.
While no shots got past the keeper, Feldman and the rest of the Terriers realize that shutouts happen in soccer, but the intensity needs to be there for all 90 minutes to give them the opportunity to win.
“We learned a valuable lesson,” Feldman said. “Physically, we were up to the challenge, but we weren’t as poised and we got ourselves in a hole. We have to come out with more aggressiveness and confidence and sustain it throughout.”
From the first five games, the Terriers know that talent and determination is there, but keeping the dominant mentality for 90 minutes is something that remains to be seen. Feldman, however, knows from experience that this harsh task is what separates a good team from a championship team.