Since 1996, two different presidents have sat in the Oval Office, one Major League Baseball team has won three World Series titles, one golfer ruled the world for 264 straight weeks and one National Basketball Association team won three straight championships.
But more importantly, since 1996, the Boston University women’s soccer team has never started its season as successfully as it has this fall.
The squad owns a 4-1 record after coming off a tough two-game road trip last weekend in Michigan, where it defeated Oakland University, 3-0, and then suffered its first loss, 3-0, to No. 25 University of Michigan in the Michigan Classic.
Despite the loss, BU coach Nancy Feldman felt the team still “played a strong second half against Michigan.”
All Terrier eyes now shift to Fairfield University and Brown University, as the women invade Lessing Field Friday night in Connecticut to take on the Stags (1-4) before returning to Nickerson Field on Sunday to host the Bears (2-2).
Fairfield enters the contest having lost three straight, falling in its last game to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, 3-1.
The Terriers bested the Stags last year, 3-1, in Feldman’s 100th career victory at Boston University. Melissa Shulman and Susan Marschall each netted a goal in that match, and BU wouldn’t mind a repeat performance tonight.
“For 90 minutes, we are going to be going at them, and that’s our game plan,” Feldman said. “We have to make them play at our tempo, and let us dictate the game.”
Junior Meghann Cook comes into the game as the Terriers’ offensive leader, scoring three goals and adding two assists for eight points.
Shulman and sophomore Lauren Erwin have also put together solid seasons thus far. Erwin has five points on two goals and one assist, while Shulman has four points on two goals.
Meanwhile, for the Stags, senior Megan King – with two goals – leads the offense, while junior teammate Shannon Helm has helped, scoring a goal and recording an assist.
The only other Stag showing life on offense is freshman Janna Breitenwischer, with two assists.
“They have two good forwards they’re going to utilize, so we’re going to be pressing their backs hard,” Feldman said. “We need to get the ball and go forward with it.”
Much like the Terriers, the Stags feature a freshman goalkeeper, Brett Maron, who has compiled a nice collegiate start thus far, recording 24 saves and boasting a .750 save percentage.
But Fairfield’s offense has been lackluster, only producing three goals in four games, while surrendering 17 to their opponents. The squad is also 1-2 at home this season.
Brown also enters the weekend on a losing streak, having lost its last two games. The Bears will host the University of New Hampshire on Friday before making the short trip from Providence, R.I. to Boston on Sunday.
Sophomore Kathleen Waddell leads the Brown attack with two of Brown’s six goals on the year. In goal, junior Hillary Wilson has done it all for the Bears, playing every minute in net this season and surrendering only three goals in four games.
For the Terriers, Feldman said sophomore Stephanie Dreyer will start the game in net, and freshman Christina Reuter will play the second half, as she has all season.
“We want to get back to playing 90-minute games,” Feldman said, referring to her team’s need to bounce back after the Michigan loss. “We want to get back up to our ability.”
After sitting out the Terriers’ victory over George Mason University with an injury, Erwin returned for the games in Michigan but suffered a minor setback. Feldman said the sophomore sat out of Wednesday’s practice after playing 45 minutes against Oakland and 85 minutes against Michigan. The coach did say Erwin would see the field against the Stags.
Before falling to Michigan, BU was ranked No. 22 nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, but it has since fallen out of the Top 25. The squad did receive votes, however, and two more wins this weekend could put BU back on the national stage.
