For Boston University students, Thanksgiving break serves as a pit stop – a chance to relax – before the last push of the semester and finals. I see no better time than now to express what I am thankful for, obviously with an emphasis on Terrier Athletics.
While I love BU basketball and hockey, there is nothing I am more thankful for this year than the success of the women’s soccer team. Although its season came to end on Friday after a 2-0 defeat against top-seeded Wake Forest University, the No. 12 Terriers had the most successful season in program history.
Records were made as the Terriers finished the season with 19 wins and a winning percentage of .848. In addition, BU hosted its first ever NCAA game, a 3-0 victory against Harvard University.
The season was full of highlights, specifically wins on the West Coast against the University of Washington and women’s soccer powerhouse the University of Portland, as well as ruining the University of Hartford’s perfect season.
A draw on the road against then No. 4 Boston College foreshadowed a successful season, but my expectations were blown away. For this, I tip my red fedora and congratulate head coach Nancy Feldman and the members of the women’s soccer team on an amazing season!
I am thankful that winter sports have finally arrived in the form of basketball. While I love soccer, the time it takes for the BU basketball season to begin seems like an eternity. I was grateful to see the student body come out and support the men’s team in the home opener and I will be even more grateful if similar numbers can show up on a consistent basis, especially during America East Conference play.
Turning to the ice, I am thankful Jenn Wakefield is back from the Four Nations Tournament in Canada. While she was gone BU went 1-1, but the loss was a 3-1 defeat at home against rival Boston College, a team they had beaten on the road 4-1 just three days prior.
The only difference, beside the outcome, was that Wakefield played in the victory.
I will be the first to tell you that hockey is a team sport. BU fans have gotten a taste of what happens when a team with plenty of talent plays as a bunch of individuals (cough BU vs. Holy Cross, cough BU vs. UMass Lowell).
However, Wakefield, along with sophomore Marie-Philip Poulin and senior Jenelle Kohanchuk, both of whom are injured, can individually take over a game. When you have players of that caliber – see John Holland in the America East Championship game – it is hard to lose.
For that I am thankful Wakefield is back in Boston. Please never go back to Canada again, especially if BU is playing BC in the next game!
Staying on the ice, I am thankful that the men’s hockey team has decided to have a three-game winning streak, the first winning streak of the season. We all know this team has talent — it is just a matter of them playing as a team, rather than individuals.
I am grateful that the men’s team smacked BC 5-0 on the road and that BU students took over both Conte Forum and the BC campus. A win like that does wonders for a team’s confidence and, furthermore, gets fans that much more excited for hockey games.
Just try to get tickets to the next away game at BC.
I am thankful the team’s power play has all of sudden started working. In the last three games, BU has gone 4-of-12 on the power play, compared to 5-of-45.
I respect and am thankful that Coach Parker emphasizes the student in student-athlete, by benching any player who has cut a certain number of classes.
Kieran this is for you and any other players on the team: please go to class!
I am thankful that during Thanksgiving break there still are BU sporting events to attend. While everyone loves watching football Thanksgiving Day while eating turkey, stuffing, and copious amounts of pie, BU fans have their sights on Red Hot Hockey.
The biennial game played at Madison Square Garden, between former rivals BU and Cornell University is as big for students as it is for alumni, as the Terriers will look to stay undefeated in the third installment of the event. In the past two contests BU is 1-0-1.
If hockey is not your thing, do not fret! BU basketball has a special Thanksgiving treat for you in the form of a three-day tournament in Kingston, R.I., where the Terriers face Cleveland State University, the University of Rhode Island, and Hofstra University.
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy good food and football, while in the company of family and friends, unless off course your friends go to BC.
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