If nicknames were worthy of accolades, Boston University field hockey junior Pam Spuehler would have already earned America East Nickname of the Week after her coach, Sally Starr, referred to the midfielder as “Pam Tooler.”
But since such honors are fictitious, Spuehler will have to settle for the America East Player of the Week. The junior mid earned the honor Monday after her brilliant individual effort Sunday ignited the Terriers to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over then-No.7 University of Virginia.
With BU trailing 1-0 in the second half, Spuehler carried the ball from the 25-yard line and dribbled past three defenders before firing a laser to the far side of the goal, knotting the score at one apiece.
The Herculean effort on which she “tooled everyone,” according to Starr, resulted in Spuehler’s first goal of the season.
TWICE AS NICE
Furthering BU athletics’ mission to monopolize the America East awards, BU women’s soccer senior Lauren Erwin earned her second straight America East Player of the Week, announced Monday along with Spuehler’s.
Erwin scored the game-winning goal for the Terriers Saturday in BU’s 2-1 win over Stony Brook University, crashing the net on a Farrell McClernon redirect off a corner kick and burying the ball in the net from point-blank range.
The second-half tally by the co-captain allowed the Terriers to win their 10th straight conference opener. It was Erwin’s third goal of the year and the striker now leads BU with 10 points (three goals, four assists).
VOTES ARE IN
With two award winners emerging from an undefeated weekend in BU sports, it’s no surprise then that BU is moving up in the polls.
Women’s soccer reached No. 10 in the nation-its highest ranking ever-in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll released Tuesday. In addition, field hockey climbed a step closer to returning to national prominence.
After being ranked in the beginning of the year, a rough stretch that saw BU lose three straight, knocked them out of the polls. Now, in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, the Terriers received the most votes (35) of any team not in the top 25.