NEWTON – Though Friday’s 1-0 loss to the University of Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament ended the season for the Boston University women’s soccer team, the 2003 campaign will no doubt be remembered as one of the most notable in program history.

But on a cold and blustery evening on the Newton campus of Boston College, a well-placed shot from the best offensive player in the Big East made strings in the back of the net flutter and this time, it wasn’t the just wind.

Junior Kristen Graczyk got free for a moment outside the 18-yard box and knew exactly what to do. She made no mistake, and BU goalkeeper Jessica Clinton had no chance. In the blink of an eye, the Huskies scored the only goal they would need.

‘It was a great season,’ BU head coach Nancy Feldman said in a postgame press conference. ‘I don’t know how these girls feel, but I feel like from start to finish, we came a long way and it was just real enjoyable. We would have liked to have gone on, but we gave it everything we had today.’

BU played inspired soccer for the first 45 minutes, highlighted by a Rebecca Beyer shot that hit the left post. But Connecticut was too strong – despite playing with only two forwards, it outshot BU 11-7 in the first frame.

When the second half began, Connecticut had the wind, and a husky advantage. The lopsided final frame featured 14 shots and five corner kicks to BU’s two and one, respectively, and the Huskies finally found a seam at 84:58.

But anyone who is disappointed is kidding himself. Yes, a loss is a loss, but Connecticut is the No. 15 team in the country. A BU win would have been an upset.

‘I think our team came to play today and we played about as good a soccer game as we are capable,’ Feldman said. ‘I think that we all feel like we are leaving the field having given it everything we had against a very good team and a very good attacking team. I thought it was a great soccer game and I was really pleased with our poise throughout the whole thing. The game might have been a little different if we had stuck that first one in the back of the net.’

It seems as though Friday’s game was a curtain call for a team that deserves a standing ovation.

A campaign sprinkled with accolades and achievements, both individually and collectively, Feldman graduates a senior class that solidified BU as an opponent to be taken seriously.

Last year’s cast was a disappointment: seven wins in 19 tries, with 12 goals scored all season. This year’s team scored 14 goals in its first seven games en route to a 12-6-5 overall mark. Sophomore Melissa Shulman came back from injury to lead the team in points. Clinton was a rock in net, inking herself in the record books as BU’s all-time best goalie.

But this season’s seniors will be remembered because of their firsts. They were part of the first Terrier team to win an America East regular season championship. They were on the first team to win a conference tournament championship and play in the NCAA Tournament. They were also on the first team to win an NCAA Tournament game.

And all that was when they were freshmen.

Emily Dionne, Katie Chen, Lesley Garvey, Clinton and Beyer followed that up a year later with another trip to the NCAAs in 2001. They made it again this season, culminating with Friday night’s loss. Three trips to the NCAA Tournament in four years would satisfy many coaches.

But Feldman’s crew is deeper than just its seniors, as seven underclassmen won awards from the America East for their play this season. The back line of Brittany McDonald and Erica Lee will keep BU’s next goalie protected. Brooke Bingham and Susan Marschall offer smart play and strong legs in the midfield, while Shulman, Lauren Erwin and Meghann Cook rival the best forward combinations in the league.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, there is plenty to look forward to for the BU women’s soccer program. Just remember, August is only nine months away.