Women’s Soccer Takes the Field

The women’s soccer Terriers are looking to get the ball rolling on a successful 2007 campaign, even though the regular season doesn’t start for another two weeks. On Monday, August 20, they take on Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire in their first scrimmage.

The Terriers finished last fall with a 13-5-3 overall record, falling to Maine in the America East conference championship semifinals. The game went into double overtime and was ultimately decided on penalty kicks. BU received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but bowed out in a 3-0 loss to Boston College.

This season, BU’s strength may be in its numbers. Eight starters are returning to action as the team strives for its fifth America East conference championship in eight years. The squad’s freshman prospects have already attracted attention; Soccer Buzz magazine ranked this year’s recruiting class number one in the conference and number five in the Northeast.

Cocaptain Lauren Basham (COM’08), who started in 17 and played in all 21 games last season, will lead BU’s offense. As a forward, Basham was fifth on the team in points — she had nine — scoring three goals and notching three assists. She is joined up top by Farrell McClernon (SMG’10), who posted a strong performance in 2006 with a team-high 16 points, including seven goals — three of them game-winners. McClernon was named America East’s Rookie of the Year.

Returning midfielders include Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (CAS’09) and Emily Pallotta (SMG’10). Schumacher-Hodge was selected as the 2006 America East Midfielder of the Year and was a first-team honoree. She was recently named to the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy Women’s Watch List. The winner of one of college soccer’s most prestigious awards is selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Pallotta started in all but one game in 2006 and was third in team points with 11, including 3 goals.

BU’s backfield is anchored by cocaptain Elizabeth Speck (CAS’09), who started in 19 games last year. With Speck’s help, BU’s defense held opponents to 14 goals during the season, including 12 shutouts in 21 games. Defender Corie Halasz (SAR’10), last season’s team rookie of the year, received first team All–America East honors and was a third team NSCAA All-Northeast region honoree.

Shannon Mullen (COM’09) and Casey Brown (CGS’08) round out the defense. Mullen started in 18 games, helping BU to a .64 goals against average. Brown, who also spends time in the midfield, scored two goals and notched one assist.

BU’s last line of defense comes in the form of goalkeeper Christina Reuter (CAS’08), who has a career record of 11-6-5 and a .848 goals against average over three years.

The Terriers’ first home game is on Friday, August 31, at Nickerson Field. Under head coach Nancy Feldman, the team takes on Stanford as part of the Terrier Classic tournament.

Abby Jordan can be reached at ajordan@bu.edu.