In the first dual meet loss of the 2005 season, the Boston University women’s swimming and diving team fell, 167.5-135.5 at the hands of cross-town rival Northeastern University (1-0) at home in its first non-conference match-up.
The Terriers couldn’t follow up last weekend’s victory over Binghamton University on Saturday against the Huskies, as they suffered their first-ever setback in the new Fitness and Recreation Aquatic Center. The loss saw BU’s record drop to 1-1 (1-0 America East) on the young season.
While the results may not have eased the pain of the loss, the ladies had several standout performances that proved noteworthy. Freshman Christina Ruggeiro had a stellar performance and led the team, winning in the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:47.15, the 500-yard free in 5:10.54 and the 200-yard free at 1:57.03.
“Individually, Christina Ruggiero really was tough for us coming right out in the 1,000 and swimming the 200 very well,” said first-year coach Bill Smyth.
Smyth also noted the performances of junior Lidija Breznikar and senior Natalie Boyd, both of whom had good showings in their events.
Breznikar flew in the 200-yard fly, clocking in at 2:07:01 and winning the event by more than two seconds. She was also close to achieving a special Terrier milestone.
“Lidija was close to our school record in the 200 breaststroke and swam excellent races in 200 fly and 200 [individual medley],” Smyth said, adding that the team “got key performances where we needed them from Natalie Boyd.”
Boyd finished behind Ruggiero in both the 500-yard free (5:20:22) and 200-yard free (1:57:22). Boyd also put together important performances for the relay teams.
According to Smyth, the team’s strongest events were the 100- and 200-yard free. The latter was led by the one-two punch of Ruggiero and Boyd.
Freshman Alex Crerar followed up her excellent showing in her first collegiate meet against Binghamton on Oct. 22, where she won the three-meter dive. She continued dominating from the board on Saturday, even one-upping herself by winning both the one-meter (262.65) and the three-meter events (273.53).
Looking forward to Saturday’s meet against the University of New Hampshire at home, Smyth didn’t look at his team’s effort as something that needed any improving.
“I was very happy with the team’s efforts both mentally and physically,” he said. “I would just like to see consistency. The way our girls approached and raced the meet against Northeastern was exactly what I am looking for.
“I think that if we were to improve anything, it would just be consistency and being able to do what we do well over and over again.”
Although they lost this home meet, Smyth said he is very confident that the team will reap major benefits from the new aquatics center – in both the short and long term.
“It’s going to help us a lot,” Smyth said. “It’s going to help us have more training space, it will help us individualize the workouts more and it’s going to help in terms of recruiting. It should definitely benefit us a ton.”
Both the men and women’s teams will be hosting the University of New Hampshire on Saturday at 1 p.m. The men will enter the meet in search of their first victory of the season after having this past weekend off.
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