Boston University men’s soccer senior Shaun Taylor is considering filing for redshirt status for the remainder of the 2009 season in hopes of adding an extra year of eligibility, according to Taylor’s fianc’eacute;e.
Taylor has been out with a leg injury since early September.
‘Shaun had such high expectations for this season,’ women’s soccer senior Taleen Dimirdjian, Taylor’s fianc’eacute;e, said. ‘He really wanted to have a great performance to hopefully get drafted.’
The team has not revealed further specifics on the injury.
Taylor, a former-America East first-team honoree, suffered a leg injury during training earlier this season. At the time, BU coach Neil Roberts told The Daily Free Press that Taylor could be expected back in two weeks, at the earliest. But Roberts admitted there was a great deal of uncertainty surrounding Taylor’s return.
One month and two days later, Roberts was tight-lipped on releasing any information regarding Taylor’s injury.
‘Nothing new on Shaun,’ Roberts told The Daily Free Press after last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Stony Brook. ‘We’re taking it day-by-day.’
Taylor has a decision to make: try to claw back to help his team in the NCAAs, or bow out now and hope to put together a more solid pro-resume next year.
‘I really can’t say,’ Taylor said Wednesday in response to the allegations of applying to redshirt. ‘It’s possible, but I’m hoping for the best.’
Roberts didn’t toe the line.
‘Well, I guess she’s coaching the team, now,’ the coach said in response to Dimirdjian’s allegations. ‘Shaun Taylor will not redshirt.’
Taylor’s decision to apply for redshirt status would harbor grave ramifications for a BU offense that has struggled to score through periods of time this season without Taylor. From Sept. 11 through Sept. 20, the BU offense was held to two goals over four games, getting shutout by intra-city rivals Boston College and Harvard University.
Taylor was 77th in the nation in goals per game last season, with .45. He was 91st in points per game with 1.05. His nine goals tied for second in the America East.
‘He’s so strong and did such a great job getting in shape over the off-season,’ Dimirdjian said. ‘I just don’t understand how he got hurt.’
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