Women’s Soccer Kicks Off 20th Season

Women’s soccer head coach Nancy Feldman has a 251-112-34 record at Boston University as she enters her 20th year leading the Terriers. Photos by Steve McLaughlin

Nancy Feldman was in her office a few weeks ago preparing for her 20th season as BU women’s soccer head coach when she reached to grab a DVD of the hit movie Frozen from her desk.

“We watched it as a team,” says Feldman. “It’s certainly about a lot of things, but the end is about the power of love, support, and sisterhood.” She hopes to impress the movie’s message on her Terriers as they try to build on last year’s exceptional season, which saw them earn a 9-0-2 record to become the Patriot League champions in their inaugural season in the league. The Terriers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Santa Clara 2-1.

The team comes into the season minus eight veteran players who graduated  last May, including the team’s four leading scorers. Despite their absence, the program is already off to a solid start. After defeating LaSalle 2-1 and Boston College 2-1 last month, the Terriers lost a hard-fought game at South Carolina 1-0 in double overtime last Friday before bouncing back to defeat the College of Charleston 1-0 on Sunday. Last night the Terriers continued their winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Providence in Rhode Island.

The Terriers hope to build on this season’s early success when they start a five-game home stand this Sunday, hosting San Francisco at Nickerson Field at noon. Feldman hopes to use those games to improve on ball control, something the Terriers struggled with in their recent game against South Carolina.

“That trip exposed a few things,” says Feldman. “I think it has challenged and tested us so we’ve seen what we’re good at and seen some areas we have to improve. But it also built our confidence. We know we are capable of competing against one of the best teams in the country.”

Offensively, the Terriers are off to a strong start. Jenna Fisher (SAR’16) scored two of the team’s first five goals and is expected to be one of the most consistent scorers, along with Ana Cuffia (SHA’15), Taylor Krebs (CAS’15), and Erica Kosienski (SAR’17), who led the team in scoring with eight goals last year.

“I’d be satisfied with the same or more from Erica,” Feldman says. “She didn’t start. She came off the bench and provided a spark for the team. She’s a natural goal scorer and now she has a better understanding of the tactics of the game.”

The team’s defense is expected to be strong again this season as well. Last year, the defense contributed to 16 shutouts—the most in program history.

For the first time ever, the Terriers are being led by four captains: backs Ariana Aston (COM’15) and Kai Miller (CAS’15), midfielder Jamie Turchi (SAR’15), and goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi (COM’15).

“We need voices that are formal and clear,” says Feldman. “I think these four are up to it.”

“I think all four of us are going to be working for our team and leading the team by example,” says Parisi, who will do her best to fill the void in net left by the departure of Andrea Green (CAS’14). “The season is off to a great start. We’ve played some tough opponents, including BC,” Turchi says. “But we also have some tough opponents ahead of us, so we’re taking the season one game at a time and approaching every game with specific goals in mind.”

In an effort to build chemistry on the field, Feldman has engaged the team in a number of activities off the field, including movie nights (Frozen) and a preseason trip to Camp Merriwood in New Hampshire. “We think it’s important to build cohesion,” she says. “In order for that to happen, there needs to be a lot of interaction. That takes effort by the older players, partly because they can just stay in their little circle and not open it up. But our older players really grasp the idea that that’s not going to build a cohesive team.”

With their first year in the Patriot League behind them, veteran team members believe their newly gained familiarity with their opponents will work to their advantage.

“Last year was kind of a surprise going into every game, not knowing what the opposing team was going to be like,” Turchi says, “so it’s definitely more comforting knowing we’ve played them all.”

The BU women’s soccer team takes on San Francisco this Sunday, September 7, at noon at Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St. Tickets are $5 for the general public, $2 for faculty, staff, and students without a student sports pass, and free for students with a sports pass.

Andre Khatchaturian can be reached at andrekhatch@gmail.com.