Women's Soccer 2008 Recap

By: Tristan Hobbes

2008 Season Recap

When you fall in the first round of the NCAA Division I soccer tournament, it's hard not to look back at the successes you had that year. For the Boston University Women’s soccer team in 2008, it would be unfair not to look back and examine what it did accomplish.

Last fall, the Terriers had one of the most successful seasons in history that included the team’s sixth American East Conference Championship, an undefeated conference regular season, a fourth straight NCAA appearance, broken records and several individual honors.

BU (15-6-1) was led by six seniors in 2008, including America East Midfielder of the Year, Marisha Schumacher-Hodge. The class of six became one of head coach Nancy Feldman’s most special as they became the first class to appear in four straight NCAA tournaments. In four years, these six led BU to an overall record of 53-22-11.

After dropping back-to-back games to Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Minnesota and seeing their record drop to 4-5, the Terriers went on a 12-game unbeaten streak that included nine-straight wins. During the nine-game winning streak, BU outscored their opponents 18-4 and shutout the opponent six times. Along the way, BU locked up the first undefeated conference regular season since they did it in 2000 and also claimed their second-straight American East Title with a 2-1 win over Stony Brook. BU also knocked off then #19 University of Connecticut, 1-0, on September 7th.

The Terriers drew the defending champs, the University of Southern California, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans ended the Terriers season with a 2-0 victory.

Heading into 2009, the Terriers are hoping for repeat seasons from several of their key players. Senior tri-captain Mara Osher ('10) is one of those players that had an outstanding 2008. Osher scored three goals and added four assists. After a disappointing 2007, Farrell McClernon ('10)returned to form in 2008 with four goals and four assists and BU also saw Corie Halasz ('11), a rising junior, step into the spotlight and contribute four goals. Defensively, rising senior Janie Reilly ('10) continue her assault on the BU record book in goal. She earned nine shutouts on the year and her 0.64 GAA tied her for the fourth-lowest in a single season in BU history. Her 0.60 career GAA puts her first all-time and her 84.8 save percentage is currently second all-time.

Highlights


-The 12-game unbeaten streak and the nine-game winning streak both were program records.

- BU shutout 12 opponents, also a new school record, and finished 15th in the country with a 0.62 goals against average.

-Casey Brown (’10) named Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year and to NCSAA All-Northeast Region.

-Feldman and her coaching staff were recognized as the top staff in the American East.

-Mara Osher (’10) and Lina Cords (’11) were named First Team All-Conference.

-Elizabeth Speck (’10), Farrell McClernon (’10), Emily Pallotta (’10), Shauna Kelleher (’11), Janie Reilly (’10) were all named Second Team All-Conference.

-Jessica Luscinski (’12) was named to the All-Rookie Team.

-Schumacher-Hodge named AE Scholar Athlete of the Year, NCSAA/Adidas Scholar All America Team and NCSAA All-Northeast Region.

-Pallotta named to ESPN the Magazine Academic District 1 First Team.