After its first six games of the season, the Boston University women’s soccer team appeared to be having a down year. Goals were hard to come by, the defense had trouble containing the opponents’ playmakers and BU coach Nancy Feldman’s squad was 0-4-2 with its first homestand of the season approaching.
Once the Terriers (6-5-3, 4-0-1 Patriot League) finally played at Nickerson Field, however, they looked like a different team. On Sept. 13, BU won its first home game against Hofstra University in overtime by a score of 2-1. Ever since that game, the Terriers have dominated their opponents, earning an impressive 6-1-1 record.
Although they have made great improvements in their game, the Terriers can credit their defensive efforts for their success. In five games against Patriot League teams, BU has allowed only 19 shots on goal. This helps explain how the Terriers are tied for second in the league in goals allowed per game (1.14).
Throughout most of the season, Feldman has stressed that all 11 players on the field have to defend in order to control the ball and dominate the possession.
“We are developing a [defensive] style, and that takes time,” Feldman said. “We started in the preseason and we work on it and we get comfortable with it and when under pressure, we try to continue to play with the style we want to play with. We want to try and dictate the game.
“It’s not just the backs, and it’s not just the goalkeepers,” she added. “It’s the whole unit doing things that are together. I think that’s definitely improved over the past six weeks.”
Doyle Carries Team on Offense, Leads Team in Points
Not to be outdone by the defense, freshman forward McKenna Doyle has shined in her first year with the Terriers. The Manhattan Beach, California, native leads the team with 11 points and four goals. She has played in all 14 games and has seven of her 14 shots on goal.
Most recently, Doyle received Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors last week after tallying two goals in a 4-1 victory versus Loyola University Maryland on Oct. 3. She also notched two assists in a 4-0 win over Lafayette College on Saturday.
“She started really well the first few games,” Feldman said of Doyle. “Then there was a bit of a lull where she was a little fatigued, but she is a kid that is defensively really strong. She is willing to play outside of her comfort zone, some people can do that right away in college soccer, and some people have to learn how to do that. It’s not an easy thing to do. But McKenna has got pretty good maturity as far as that goes and is able to push herself outside of her comfort zone and is very coachable. … She’s doing great.”
Terriers Reach the Home Stretch of Regular Season
With the team leading the Patriot League with 13 points, the Terriers now head into the final stretch of the regular season with only four games remaining, all against Patriot League rivals.
Their next match will be a battle with Lehigh University at Nickerson Field this coming Saturday. The reigning Patriot League champions then have their final home game against the College of the Holy Cross before ending the season on a two-game road trip. Despite having a firm grip on the top of the Patriot League standings, Feldman stressed the importance of these next few games.
“We still have to grab a top seed in the Patriot League Tournament, that’s still up for grabs,” Feldman said. “So these four games are critical, and we have our goal of winning the regular season title, hosting the tournament and giving us a good chance to win the tournament. … We’re better than we were at the start of the season, and hopefully that trajectory continues.”
Wakefield Earns Patriot League Recognition
Sophomore forward Christina Wakefield has excelled recently for the Terriers. On Tuesday, she received an honorable mention from the Patriot League after scoring a goal in the Terrier’s past two games.
“Christina is hitting her stride a little bit,” Feldman said when asked about Wakefield’s recent play. “But she’s been fighting and battling and doing all of the little things since the start of the season. I don’t think you can appreciate Christina until she’s on your team, or until you have to defend her.
“She doesn’t stop moving, and she doesn’t stop battling,” Feldman added. “If you take a second to pause, she’s going to get an advantage. Last game, she got her own rebound off of a deflection. That’s just the gritty hard play she’s known for.”
Nick is currently writing for the Boston Hockey Blog. In the past, he has served as associate sports editor, and has covered men's and women's cross-country, women's soccer, men's basketball, and men's lacrosse for the Daily Free Press. You can keep track of Nick's exciting life by following him on Twitter at @nikfraz14
