BOSTON—The Boston University women's soccer team hits the road for the Patriot League Opener on Sunday afternoon at Bucknell. The rematch of the 2015 Patriot League Championship is slated for 1 p.m. on Emmitt Varsity Soccer Field.
THE BISON
After losing to Boston University in the Patriot League Championship to end last season, Bucknell has not dropped another contest since, going 6-0-1 so far in 2016. The Bison have beaten Monmouth, St. Francis (Pa.), Dayton, Wright State, Syracuse, Mouth St. Mary's and Iona and tied with Rider. 2015 All-Patriot League First Team member Kendall Ham leads the Bison by a mile with eight goals this season. Jackie Ham, Maddie Mulford and Maddie Dano have been her best helpers, each with three assists on the season. Jessica Ratner is the goalie of record for Bucknell and has a .45 goals against average and .842 save percentage through the first seven games.
TERRIERS START WITH TOUGH SLATE
Boston University began its season with a difficult slate which included two top-25 teams, No. 15 Connecticut and No. 18 Virginia Tech and Boston College, who is the third out from the 25th spot in the poll, receiving 22 votes in the most recent standings. BU also faced three opponents for the first time in program history during the first eight games, including VT, Cincinnati and Arizona State.
BU SELECTED AS PATRIOT LEAGUE FAVORITE
For the fourth straight year, the Terriers were chosen to win the Patriot League title. BU was tabbed for the fourth straight crown by the league's coaches and sports information directors in the annual preseason poll. BU totaled 16 first-place votes and 160 total points in the poll, the most the team has ever received. Last year's runner-up, Bucknell, grabbed the remaining four first-place nods and was picked to finish second this season.
RECORD FOUR TERRIERS NAMED ALL-PL
After starting the last three straight seasons with two Terriers named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, a record four earned the honor this year with 2015 Rookie of the Year
McKenna Doyle making the list alongside classmate
Julianna Chen. Senior captains
Rachel Blauner and
Rachel Bloznalis also made the list and Bloznalis earned the added distinction of being picked as the Preseason Patriot League Defender of the Year. All four Terriers earned All-Patriot League Team honors last season and Bloznalis is the only returning first team member for this year.
CAPTAIN RACHEL(S)
Seniors
Rachel Blauner and
Rachel Bloznalis were named captains for the season. Blauner returns for a fifth year this season and serves as a captain for the second time. The pair form the backbone to the Terrier defensive unit this season. The three other seniors,
Bridget Conway,
Ellen Starnes and
Erica Kosienski will also be called upon to guide the younget Terriers in their final year in the program.
EIGHT NEWCOMERS JOIN THE FOLD
BU welcomes eight newcomers to the fold in 2016.
Chloee Sagmoe will serve as an attacking midfielder this season while
Ann Marie Jaworski and
Jordan Bailey will be beside her in center midfield. The Terriers picked up two new defenders in
Shannon Keefe and transfer student
Royce Light, who comes to BU after playing her freshman year at NYU. With the loss of Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Alyssa Parisi, the Terriers add
Emma Heil between the posts.
Rachel Kingston and
Kelly Park round out the newcomers and will add to the attacking unit as forwards this season.
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