Feldman Encouraged by Women Booters
August 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
The Terrier women's soccer team has reached almost the midpoint of their pre-season camp, and head coach Nancy Feldman is "very encouraged" by what she has seen thus far. "Everyone came back to camp very fit," said the coach. "In fact, we are at the best fitness level we've been at this stage in my five years at Boston University."
Ranked among the nation's most successful college soccer coaches, Feldman will enter her fifth year at the Terrier helm on September 1st when the women travel to Central Connecticut. Her four-year record at B.U. is 47-22-4, including a 10-8-2 mark last year. Her overall head-coaching record is 139-43-12 in 11 years.
"The upperclassmen came back in excellent condition because they were driven by how last season ended on a disappointing note for us," said the coach.
A year ago, the Terriers entered the America East post-season playoffs as the second seed. They were 7-1-1 in regular-season league play and had hopes of challenging for the post-season title. Unfortunately, in the opening round, they were blanked by New Hampshire, 1-0. Earlier in the year, it was B.U. who shut out New Hampshire, 5-0, so the loss to the Wildcats was doubly disappointing.
This year's B.U. team does not want to see 1999 end the way 1998 did. The freshmen also reported to their first pre-season in excellent shape. "Today, the younger players all have a better idea of what is expected of them," noted Feldman. "Many of them play all summer, and they never really get of out shape. So, when they come to pre-season camp, they are ready to play.
"I have been very pleased with the attitude of our freshmen," said the coach. "They have shown us mentally they want to play. They don't want to sit back and play a backup role. They came to camp with the attitude they want to play a key role for us this year."
Of the newcomers, outside back Erin O'Brien, striker Tiffany Chag, and outside midfielder Suzanne Hudak have fared the best during the first week of pre-season, while midfielder Allison Merkle has been showing continued progress and looking more comfortable with the Terrier style of play.
"I have also been very happy with how the upperclassmen, who were hurt during the spring, have come back healthy," said the coach. "A number of our veteran players could not play at all during the spring. But, they rehabbed aggressively during the summer, and it has shown thus far during the pre-season."
Among the most noteworthy is Annalisa Rodovsky, who suffered a knee injury in the spring, but has shown no ill effects thus far in camp.
"She has shown no fear during practice," Feldman said of Rodovsky, who will enter her senior year with career totals of 28 goals and 12 assists for 68 points. Her goal total ranks second on the University's all-time career list, while she is fourth in assists and second in points. "There is no question, Annalisa is back mentally."
Also returning to the "100 percent" status is senior Alicia Waag. A First Team All-Conference back in 1997, she was hampered by injuries last year and did not play in the spring.
"We forgot how good Alicia really is," said Feldman. "She is such a sound technical player, and, from the early signs of pre-season, she is back to the form that she showed two years ago. She could be a huge factor for us this year."
Feldman also cited three other upperclassmen based on what she has seen during pre-season-Deidre Enos, Suzanne Finn, and Nicole Soules.
"Deidre has picked up this year where she left off last year," Feldman said of Enos, who led the team in goals (10), assists (9), and points (29) a year ago. A First Team All-Conference selection last season, Deidre, who is only a junior, will enter this season ranked fourth on the University's all-time list in goals (15) and points (41), while she is fifth in assists (11).
"Suzanne has looked more comfortable this year than she was last year," Feldman said of Finn, who spent her first two years at Clemson before she transferred to B.U. A year ago, she started all 20 of the Terriers' games and had 4-2-10. "Nicole appears ready to take the next step," Feldman said of Soules. Only a sophomore, she was the team's top-scoring freshman a year ago with 3-5-11. "She could be a dominant player offensively for us."
For the second straight year, the Terriers have been in Hopkinton for their pre-season camp. They will return to campus on August 25th and prepare for an exhibition game against a Canadian all-star team that played in the W league last year. The match is scheduled for Duxbury High School on August 28th at 6:00 p.m.
It is part of a doubleheader with the Terrier men's team, who will play a Canadian Team on 8:00 p.m.
