Roberts Named NSCAA New England Coach of the Year
December 16, 2004 | Men's Soccer
BOSTON - Boston University men's soccer head coach Neil Roberts, who led the Terriers to the 2004 America East title and the second round of the NCAA Tournament, was named NSCAA New England Coach of the Year.
With the regional honor, Roberts is now a candidate for the National Coach of the Year honor, which will be announced at the NSCAA Awards Banquet held in Baltimore, Md., on Friday, Jan. 14.
Roberts, who was also named 2004 America East Coach of the Year, posted his 20th consecutive winning season with a 10-8-3 overall record. In his 20 seasons at the helm, the Terriers have appeared in 12 NCAA Tournaments while recording a 232-100-48 overall mark.
During the 2004 season, the Terriers posted a 6-2-1 conference record and were crowned America East regular-season co-champions, sharing the honor with Albany. B.U. shut out Stony Brook, 2-0, in the America East Semifinals on Nov. 10. The Terriers battled to a 2-2 double-overtime tie with Binghamton in the title game on Nov. 14, before winning the crown with a 5-3 penalty kick victory.
In the NCAA first round, B.U. again fought to a 2-2 tie against Ivy League Champion Dartmouth before out-shooting the Big Green, 4-3, in the penalty kicks. The Terriers had their dream season end with a 3-1 loss to No. 11 St. John's in an NCAA second-round game.
Roberts earns his fifth NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year honor. He also received the honor in 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1994. Roberts is also a five-time America East Coach of the Year honoree and was named New England Soccer Coach of the Year on three occasions by the Eastern Massachusetts High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The Terriers will return nine starters and 22 letterwinners from this year's squad for the 2005 season.
