Terriers Face Stony Brook Saturday in America East Final

In a duel between the America EastConference’s most prolific scoring offenses of 2008, the top-seededBoston University women’s soccer team (14-5-1, 8-0-0 AE) will take onsecond-seeded Stony Brook (11-7-0, 6-2-0 AE) in the America EastChampionship title game on Saturday, November 8. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Nickerson Field. The Terriers enter the match riding aprogram-record eight-game winning streak; the Seawolves have wonsix of their last seven contests. BU’s 1-0 victory over Maine November 2 ensured the team’s spot in the championship game.

In BU’s 14 years as a varsity program, the Terriers have won five of the last eightAmerica East championships and are 11-4-2 in AE postseason conferenceaction. As the top seed, the Terriers are undefeated. Over the last 14 years the America East regular-seasonchampion has won the conference title 13 times. A win on Saturday would givehead coach Nancy Feldman six titles and push her past former Hartford head coach AustinDaniels as the America East’s all-time leader.

BU is currently riding its longest win streak in eight seasons andhas gone unbeaten in 11 straight contests, one shy of matchinga school record. The team ran the table in conference action and recorded thefirst unbeaten, untied slate since the squad accomplished the feat in2000. In addition, the Terriers recently tied a BU single-season record,with 12 shutouts. Nationally, BU ranks 12th among the country’s Division Isquads in goals-against average (0.54) and in shutout percentage(0.60), with netminder Janie Reilly (CAS’11) 14th in GAA (0.55).

Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (CAS’09), the 2008 AE Midfielder of the Year,headlines one of the league’s leading offenses with 5 goals and 2assists, for 12 points. The Terriers have scored 25 goals in 2008, tied with Hartford and Stony Brook in America East. Thehallmark of this season’s offense has been its depth at scoring — 10different Terriers have found the back of the net and 11 players haverecorded at least one point.

While the offense has been formidable, the defense has been just asstingy, holding opponents to 11 goals and owning a 0.54 GAA — both league bests. Over the past four seasons, the BU backline hasgiven up a mere 12 goals in 32 league contests.

Stony Brook recently concluded the most successful regular season inprogram history, accumulating the most wins since 1994. Junior MarisaViola was named the America EastGoalkeeper of the Year after she shut outfive opponents and held a 1.25 GAA, and freshman Colleen McKenna was named the America EastRookie of the Year after she led the squad with 21points on 9 goals and 2 assists.

The Seawolves advanced to the championship game by besting Binghamton 2-0 in the semifinals November 1. Senior Brooke Barbutoand McKenna each found the back of the net.

To learn about the Terriers’ pregame rituals, click here.

The first 100 students with a BU ID at Saturday’s game will be admitted free. Tickets are $2 for students in America East conference schools, $8 for the general public, and $5 for children. The game can also be viewed online through the America East Web site for $5.95, watched on GameTracker, or heard on WTBU radio. For more information, visit the women’s soccer team Web site.