June 29, 2009
This summer, GoTerriers.com is counting down the top 12 achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes in 2008-09, one of the greatest years ever for Terrier athletics. Check back each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we reveal this year's Terrier Twelve.
Leading off the top three in this year's Terrier Twelve is the men's soccer team's magical run to the second round of the NCAA tournament, highlighted by a 10-game win streak that included an America East championship and first round victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at Nickerson Field. The Terriers finished the season ranked 25th in the nation with senior Jin Oh scoring the game-winning goal in each of those wins.
BU received numerous honors for excellence on the field, led by Michael Bustamante being tabbed the league's top midfielder and rookie. Second on the team in points with 13, the Freshman All-American (Soccer America) finished the season ranked third in the league and 16th in the NCAA with a 0.47 assist per game average, which was the top mark among all freshmen. One of his two goals recorded was a game-winner in a 1-0 victory against Stony Brook, a contest that kicked off BU's 10-game unbeaten streak.
Head coach Neil Roberts in his 24th season earned his sixth AE Coach of the Year award after leading the program to its ninth regular season crown and seventh tournament title. Posting the most wins since 2001 with a 12-6-3 record, the Terriers received a total of seven all-conference team accolades and three NSCAA all-region honors. A recipient of both, senior back Dan Schultz became the first since Ola Olsen in 1994 to receive Academic All-America honors.
With the seventh-best strength of schedule in the nation, the Terriers began the year with a 0-3-1 mark against four nationally-ranked teams, including a draw against then-No. 3 Connecticut. They never thought of themselves as being in a hole with the rough start, though, and took the tough losses as evidence they could compete with anyone.
After going 3-2-1 in the next six games with wins against Harvard and defending Patriot League champion Colgate, BU found its groove and went on a tear in the next 10, shutting out seven opponents in the process and outscoring all of them, 16-3. The team ended the year with a strong effort at third seed St. John's, with the eventual College Cup participant Red Storm posting the game-winner with only seven minutes remaining in regulation.
During the regular season, the Terriers' offense relied on junior Shaun Taylor, who scored nine goals and added two assists. At the start of the postseason though, Jin Oh became the spark plug, first recording a goal against Vermont (2-1) and Binghamton (1-0) to earn AE tournament most outstanding player honors. He then followed those two performances by tallying the game's lone goal against Fairleigh Dickinson, as the Terriers advanced in the NCAAs for the first time since 2004.
BU earned its 14th trip to the dance and concluded the 2008 season with a final RPI rating of 20, the highest by an America East team dating back to 1998. The previous top mark belonged to the Terriers when they finished 2001 at 33.
The Terrier Twelve
No. 4 - Women's Basketball Runs America East Table
No. 5 - Men's Crew Charges to Grand Finals at IRA Regatta
No. 6 - Lacrosse Extends AE Dynasty as Dalton Wrecks Records
No. 7 - Women's Soccer Maintains Reign Over America East
No. 8 - Women's Tennis Continues America East Dominance
No. 9 - Conference Crown and All-Americans for Women's Track
No. 10 - Women's Swimming & Diving Conquers America East
No. 11 - Women's Ice Hockey Cracks National Rankings
No. 12 - Rickett Rewrites Records at America East Championship
A Letter from Athletic Director Mike Lynch
