Heading into this season, the Boston University women’s soccer team had lost nine seniors to graduation, five of whom were starters.
Gone was Emily Pallotta, the 2010 America East Woman of the Year. Gone were Farrell McClernon and Taleen Dimirdjian, who combined for 11 goals, seven assists and 29 points in their senior seasons as the Terriers’ strikers. Gone were Casey Brown and Mara Osher, leaders of an impregnable BU backline. Gone was Janie Reilly, who posted 20 career blank sheets in her four years as the Terriers’ starting goalkeeper.
But the 2010 edition of the Terriers (14-5-0, 8-0-0 AE) hasn’t missed a beat, as it racked up a program-record 11 straight victories to close out the regular season and finished the campaign with a perfect conference record.
BU coach Nancy Feldman attributes her team’s success to its ability to reload its roster with newcomers &- such as graduate student forward Lisa Kevorkian and junior defender Katherine Donnelly &- and with freshmen ready to make an impact, such as midfielders Emma Clark and Kylie Strom.
BUhas also relied on the growth of its veterans, including junior forward Jessica Luscinski, senior midfielder Shauna Kelleher and junior midfielder Brittany Heist, to name a few.
“We got lucky getting Lisa Kevorkian, that’s for sure,” Feldman said. “Jess Luscinski’s been outstanding. We have midfielders Shauna Kelleher and Brittany Heist coming in as experienced players, and both of them took a step in their play to really solidify the midfield. We have [junior tri-captain] Lina [Cords] and [senior tri-captain] Corie [Halasz] who are experienced players and they’ve really held down the backline.
“Then we’ve added a mix of some new players and players that did see significant time in the last year or two, like [junior forward] Tiya Gallegos, playing important roles. This is probably one of the most balanced teams we’ve ever had, and I haven’t even mentioned the goalkeeping. That really has been a key because it was a big question mark at the end of the season.
“[Freshman goalkeeper] Kelly King and [junior keeper] Alice Binns have been way more than I ever anticipated, way better and more composed and confident. Sometimes you get a little lucky, but I also think we’ve prepared some of the young players to take a step in their games.”
Heart of a Terrier
One player Feldman cannot stop gushing about is the 5-foot-3 Heist. After Heist scored another goal on Senior Day this past Sunday, Feldman had nothing but praise for a player she said is the heart of the team.
An integral part of BU’s midfield along with Kelleher, Heist has a competiveness and love for the game that influences the teammates around her.
“She’s a player that has a passion for competition and a passion for her teammates that sets her apart from everybody else,” Feldman said. “She’s just a kid who’s a heart kick. Her team means a lot to her, and her teammates mean a lot to her. She has a love for being a part of a team that sets goals and standards for performance.”
Last name- ever, first name- greatest?
After BU’s 2-0 victory over University of Maine Sunday at Nickerson Field, Feldman was asked how this year’s team stacks up against previous ones that she has coached.
Since this squad has compiled 11 straight wins, 13 shutouts &- another program record &- and outscored its opponents by a margin of 32-0 during its 11-game winning streak, some would expect Feldman to say with certainty that this year’s team is one of the best women’s soccer teams she’s had under her tenure.
But Feldman wouldn’t guarantee anything just yet. With BU having been bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament four years in a row, the legacy of these Terriers will be determined by how they perform in the tournament and if they’re finally able to get over the hump and into the elusive second round.
“Time will tell,” Feldman said. “We’ve certainly made a great run through the regular season. I thought we handled our early season, non-conference schedule really well. We didn’t win every game, but we were in every game, with the exception of the [University of] Virginia game, which was 0-0 at half. So they’ve certainly performed well in the regular season.
“They’ve certainly done everything they could have done in America East. The end result and how it’s judged is how you finish. We’ve got a tournament in front of us where everybody’s even. It’s win or go home. Hopefully, we get to represent the America East in the NCAA tournament, and this team makes their mark in the NCAA tournament and really sets themselves apart from other teams that have been here before.”
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