KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Boston University women’s soccer team enters the season ranked No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Continental Tire preseason poll, as announced by the NSCAA on Tuesday. This marks this highest preseason ranking in program history.
Head coach Nancy Feldman, who is entering her 18th season leading the Terriers, welcomes back 19 returners from last year’s team that won a school record 19 games en route to finishing the season with a mark of 19-3-1. The Terriers advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament and ended the season ranked No. 17 in the nation.
“It is satisfying for our program to be recognized in the Top 25 preseason rankings yet while we have the potential to be at Top 25 team this fall, much of the basis for this ranking is last year’s performance,” said Feldman. “As always, this year’s team has set goals for non-conference, conference and post-season NCAA play and we are looking forward to working together to accomplish these over the next few months. If we stay focused on our goals, and how to accomplish them, the rankings will take care of themselves.”
In addition to the return of 2011 AE Rookie of the Year Taylor Krebs, America East All-Conference First Team member Kylie Strom and All-Rookie team members Jamie Turchi and Ariana Aston, Boston U. will welcome seven newcomers to the 2012 squad.
The Terriers began preseason practice on Aug. 3, and will make their annual training trip to Merriwood, N.H., on Saturday, Aug. 11, where they will spend four days training and bonding as a team. The trip will be capped off with a scrimmage against Fairfield on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
For the first time since 2010, the Terriers will open the season at home when they host Central Connecticut on Friday, August 17. BU leads the all-time series against the Blue Devils, 5-2, but Central Connecticut won the last meeting, 1-0, on Sept. 2, 2005.
Three of BU’s opponents this season are also ranked in the preseason Top 25. Leading the way is No. 1 Stanford, last year’s national champion. The Terriers will play the Cardinal in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 7. BU will also face No. 11 Boston College on Sunday, Aug. 26, and No. 17 Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Two other Boston U. opponents, Dayton (Aug. 23) and Harvard (Sept. 3) also received votes in the poll.
Courtesy: Boston U. Athletic Communications