Coming off of yet another stellar season in the America East Conference, the Boston University women’s soccer team finds itself in a position far different from years past. Instead of making travel arrangements and training for the Women’s College Cup, the Terriers find themselves at the mercy of the selection committee for their berth into the tournament.
Because of BU’s transition into the Patriot League next season, the women were excluded from the Conference’s postseason tournament, which is used to decide who from the America East will receive an automatic bid into the Cup.
“We’ve been lifting, and we didn’t have quite as intense a schedule,” said BU coach Nancy Feldman. “But we’ve made sure to train enough and be together enough to be ready if we get an at-large bid.”
With Stony Brook University topping the University of Hartford 1–0 in the America East championship game, the Seawolves captured their first conference title and an automatic bid into the tournament. The Terriers will have to wait patiently for the selection committee to weigh their season’s strength to possibly receive an at-large bid.
Since the team’s final game against the University of New Hampshire, the Terriers have been busy collecting awards for their exceptional play during the regular season.
BU led the conference with eight All-Conference honorees, along with individual awards captured by senior Jessica Morrow for Defender of the Year, junior Emma Clark for Midfielder of the Year and Feldman and her staff for Coaching Staff of the year.
As one of the principle players on the BU backline, Morrow was one of five players to start each game for the Terriers. Her play helped to establish BU as a defensive force, allowing 9.68 shots per game and shutting out their opponents in five out of eight conference games. Morrow also contributed on offense with five assists, a tie for the team lead.
As the fifth Terrier Midfielder of the Year in five seasons, Clark has also established herself as a dominant force.
Clark finished second on the team with nine points including four goals and one assist, with one of those goals serving as the game-winner against the University of Hartford that gave the Terriers sole ownership of the top spot in the conference. Clark was also a field mainstay as she also started each of the Terriers’ 19 games.
Junior forward Madison Clemens, along with Clark and Morrow, achieved All-Conference First Team honors, while junior midfielder Megan McGoldrick, sophomore forward Ana Cuffia and junior defender Erin Mullen achieved Second Team honors. Freshman defender McKenzie Hollenbaugh and midfielder Clare Pleuler were selected to the All-Rookie Team.
“I was really proud of the kids,” Feldman said, “I felt that they deserved it and that was nice of the conference coaches to vote for our kids … and I think the coaches have a lot of integrity and they did a good job at selecting the kids that were deserving.”
The Terriers find out on Monday at 4:30 p.m. if they have received an at-large bid.
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