BU sports

Usually, when two nationally ranked athletic programs start their seasons with winning records, the last feeling on their minds is frustration.

But that has been the story for both the Boston University softball and women’s lacrosse teams this spring.

The combination of impending construction on two BU fields combined with stormy weather the past few weeks has rendered both fields unplayable so far this season.

By now, most are aware that Nickerson Field’s old turf has been torn out. Construction had been moving along well when New England’s latest storm — dubbed “Biggest Snowfall Since ‘78” by some — dumped about two feet on the Hub and suburbs.

“The snow curtailed progress for 10 to 14 days,” said BU assistant athletic director and facilities manager Alan Weinberger. “The timetable has changed. We’re hoping to get Nickerson ready for April 1.”

Weinberger said the original plan would have seen Nickerson ready to host the women’s lacrosse team’s home opener against Dartmouth College. That game was moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kack Barry Turf. The Terriers fell to the Big Green, 9-8, in sudden-death triple overtime.

“We were on a field that we were unfamiliar with, and that did affect us,” admitted lacrosse head coach Sue Murphy.

The lacrosse team is not the only team that is temporarily homeless. The softball team is also currently unable to play games on their home base, Malvern Field, due to the horrific weather that has plagued the Northeast. Weinberger said the snow also posed quite a problem for the newly renovated field.

“You have two problems after a big storm, the snow and the frost underneath the snow,” Weinberger said. “We got rid of all the snow last week, but the outfield is still wet and soggy.”

The weather the last two days seems to be saying, “You think that was soggy? Just wait till I’m finished.” Yesterday’s downpour will likely turn Malvern’s outfield into a veritable swamp. Luckily for the softball squad, a tarp has been utilized on the infield the last two days, so a diamond of quicksand will not be an impending problem for the infielders.

“It’s tough, obviously,” said softball coach Amy Hayes. “We had a few good days of weather, but now we have [the rain].

“There’s a lot of people around here who are in the same boat.”

Hayes may not be far off on her boat reference. Indeed, games all over New England have been rained out for all kinds of sports, the problem is not isolated to Commonwealth Avenue.

Lacrosse and softball players have had to adjust to the lack of outdoor practice space, and while it has not been easy for either team, early season results have belied any negative effect on both squads.

“It’s definitely hard,” said lacrosse player Chrissy Lombard. “It would be nice to have a field.”

The senior attacker said her teammates have been mentally tough, but it has, by no means, been easy.

The lacrosse team has been practicing in various places throughout the city, including Northeastern University, Harvard University and BU’s Case Gym. The lack of a set location has worn on the players, and the uncertainty has not been easy.

“Day to day, we don’t know where we’re practicing,” Lombard said.

Her coach is also worried about the effect of the changing schedule on the team.

“I’m worried about the players [not] getting rest and [not concentrating on] their academics,” Murphy said. “Next week we have late night practices, and I’m worried about my players getting the rest they need to get to class the next morning.”

Despite her frustration, Murphy also realizes that when Nickerson is finished, her team will have a much better home field to compete on. The FieldTurf that will eventually be laid down has earned universal acclaim from various athletes and coaches who have trodden its surface. Clearly, the new turf will be a huge turnaround from the old Nickerson Field and its sloping sides and concrete-like surface.

“It’s well worth it,” said Murphy of the change. “It’s just hard to digest the wait.”

Practice has been difficult for the softball team as well. The wet conditions have relegated the Terriers to the Armory virtually every day for practice. While it provides a large space for a softball practice, it does not adequately reflect the conditions of an outdoor field, something both the coach and the players have noticed.

“We’re having to go indoors for practice,” Hayes said. “We’ve had a couple of good days of practice, but it is not the same as being outside.”

“It definitely changes our game because we are inside,” said junior third baseman Aryn Rangel. “We get clean bounces when we’re fielding the ball. We don’t have the bad hops that are inevitable on a dirt field.”

Much like the lacrosse team, Rangel and her teammates have chosen not to view the problem negatively, instead looking for the positive in the situation.

“This pushes us to be mentally ready for getting outside,” Rangel said. “It psyches us up even more; we’re just getting excited to play outdoors.”

It looks like that day may come a little later than both teams had hoped. The current rainstorm may push the softball team’s weekend series against the University of Maine to a later date or possibly Monday.

No matter what happens in the next week, no one is pointing fingers or placing blame on anything but the weather. They are just looking forward for some of that sunshine spring is rumored to feature.

“You can’t control a major snowstorm,” Murphy said, “so we can’t be mad at anyone.”

Hayes, a first-year head coach, echoed Murphy’s feelings, as she awaits her first home game on Malvern.

“It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” she said.

And Weinberger, the man in charge, is doing all he can, which can be difficult when you’re working against a higher power.

“We need some help from Mother Nature,” he said.