Women's Soccer Sets Precedent with Six Year-End Awards
October 27, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2010
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In the midst of one its most memorable seasons to date, the Boston University women's soccer team has swept the 2010 America East women's soccer annual awards, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon. It is the first time in AE women's soccer history that a squad has swept all six major year-end awards. Additionally, seven Terriers were named to the All-Conference First Team, one to the All-Conference Second Team and three to the All-Rookie Team.
The Terriers, bolstered by a defense that owns the sixth-longest shutout streak (11) in NCAA history, captured its fourth straight America East regular-season title and all six major awards. Junior Jessica Luscinski earned Striker of the Year honors, junior Shauna Kelleher picked up Midfielder of the Year accolades, and senior Corie Halasz kept BU's streak alive by garnering the program's fourth-straight Defender of the Year recognition. The goalkeeping duo of junior Alice Binns and Kelly King also took home hardware as the Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Boston University's coaches, led by head coach Nancy Feldman, were tabbed Coaching Staff of the Year.
Joining Binns, Halasz, Kelleher and Luscinski on the All-Conference First Team is graduate student Lisa Kevorkian, and juniors Brittany Heist and Lina Cords. Junior Tiya Gallegos earned All-Conference Second Team honors, and King along with freshmen Emma Clark and Kylie Strom earned All-Rookie Team accolades.
Additionally, the conference announced the All-Academic Team on Wednesday with Cords and Luscinski receiving the prestigious honor along with 11 other student-athletes from around the league.
Luscinski has been a major contributor ever since arriving on campus in fall of 2008. An All-Rookie Team selection that year and an All-Conference First Team selection in 2009, Luscinski ranks second in America East with 24 points and nine goals, and her six assists are tied for the league lead. She also has 49 career points, which ranks her ninth all-time among BU scorers.
Kelleher serves as the field general from the defensive midfield position for the Terriers. An All-Conference First Team choice a year ago, Kelleher has three assists this season and has played a significant role in BU's league-leading scoring offense (2.26 gpg). The Terriers have won 49 of the 75 career games she has played.
Halasz leads a defense that ranks eighth nationally with a 0.52 goals-against average and is tied for second with 13 shutouts. Halasz, who has a goal and an assist this season, was an All-Conference First Team selection in 2006 and has battled back from injury to regain her all-conference form.
Binns has allowed just three goals all season while splitting time in net with King. A transfer from William Smith, she leads the conference with a miniscule 0.34 GAA and a .923 save percentage. She has not allowed a goal in her last 527:11 of action.
King has surrendered just seven goals all season and none in her last 512:02 of action. King ranks second behind Binns with a 0.70 GAA and has an .816 save percentage. The tandem has combined for 13 clean sheets this season - a program record.
Feldman, who is in her 16th season at BU, recently won her 200th game as the Terriers' head coach earlier this year. BU captured its fourth-straight America East regular-season title and became the first team ever to shut out eight conference foes in one season. An eight-time America East Coach of the Year, Feldman is assisted by Liz Driscoll and Jessica Clinton.
In her first season as a Terrier, Kevorkian has made a lasting impression as she has netted 13 goals and 5 assists for 31 points to rank third in the BU annals for single-season goals and assists. For Cords, she this season has marked a return to form for the 2008 All-Conference First Teamer. After missing the 2009 campaign due to injury, Cords has not missed a beat on the backline, helping the Terriers to its record-setting 13 shutouts and 0.00 GAA in conference play.
Gallegos is having a career year on the offensive front with seven goals and two assists for 16 points. She was recently named the GoTerriers.com Student-Athlete of the Week after scoring two goals in two games.
The rookie class has also made its mark on the BU program. In addition to King, Clark and Strom have been invaluable to the Terriers throughout the season. Clark has been a mainstay in the midfield, resulting in five goals - including one in the season opener - and two assists. Strom has seen action in 19 games and received a starting spot in two contests.
The Terriers have earned a first-round bye in the America East Women's Soccer Championships, and will host a semifinal match on Sunday (Oct. 31) at 1 p.m. against either New Hampshire or Albany.
