The Boston University women’s soccer team will finally get its first taste of conference play this upcoming weekend, as the Terriers will face off against Patriot League powerhouse U.S. Naval Academy this weekend in Annapolis, Md.
The Terriers (5-2-1) are in their first season as a member of the Patriot League. BU had played previously played in the America East Conference ever since they were elevated to a varsity sport in 1995, but withdrew from the conference last year after a successful run that included 10 America East titles over the 13 years, including five straight from 2007-11.
The Terriers’ first game against a conference opponent will certainly not be easy, as the Midshipmen (6-2-0) currently hold the best record of any Patriot League school and lead the conference in both goals (2.38) and shots (16.50) per game.
Despite the tough task ahead for her team, BU coach Nancy Feldman said that her team has been waiting to play against Patriot League-level talent for a long time.
“I feel like we’ve been talking about this for 10 years, that’s how long it seems. … It’s going to start a whole new chapter in our athletic department history and out BU women’s soccer team’s history,” Feldman said. “We’re so excited. We’re anxious to get going in it, we are excited to get going, we want to measure ourselves against the best in the conference, and it just so happens that one of the best teams in the conference happens to be our opener.
“That’s gonna present quite a challenge to us, and we know that. … We have full respect for the quality of the teams and the quality of Navy in particular. There’s a lot of mixed emotions. I think excitement, enthusiasm, a little bit of understanding that it’s going to be a challenge … there’s a part of us that wants to see where we stand, and this gives us vivid information on how we’re going to measure up.”
Miller Nabs Defensive Player of the Week Award
Just a week after sophomore defender McKenzie Hollenbaugh earned the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week award, her fellow center back, junior Kai Miller, was named the BRINE Defensive Player of the Weekon Monday afternoon.
Miller helped anchor a Terrier defense that shutout both Providence College and the University of Connecticut last weekend. This year, the Terrier defense has not allowed an opposing team to score a single goal in five games at Nickerson Field.
Miller and the BU backfield was particularly impressive in their last contest, as they held the Friars (3-2-2) to just one shot in the first half and four shots overall.
For Feldman, the biggest reason for Miller’s success this year is due to her strength and her cerebral style of play.
“She is a warrior,” Feldman said. “She’s physically strong, she has a terrific soccer brain, she thinks one-step ahead defensively. She’s physical and hard, but she’s not just playing with her muscles. She’s playing an intelligent, thoughtful, and mentally focused game.”
Kosienski Earns Back-To-Back Rookie Awards
It was a great couple of games for another Terrier, as freshman forward Erica Kosienski was named the BRINE Rookie of the Week for the second straight week.
Kosienski earned the award after scoring the game-winning goal against the Friars Sunday afternoon. With three minutes remaining in the first half of the game, Kosienski received a pass from junior midfielder Jamie Turchi inside the box. The Plantsville, Conn., native then made a move past Providence goalkeeper Kristyn Shea and fired a shot into the empty net for the goal.
Kosienski is now tied with senior forward Madison Clemens for the team lead in goals (two) and points (four) and is second on the team in shots with 11.
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