Terriers Set for AE Title Bout with Maine Saturday
November 5, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Postseason Central
BOSTON - On Saturday afternoon, the top-seeded Boston University women's soccer team (15-5-0) will take on sixth-seeded Maine (9-8-0) in the America East Conference's title bout on Nickerson Field at 1 p.m. BU enters the contest riding a 12-game winning streak, while the Black Bears are the Cinderella squad of the tournament knocking off second-seeded Stony Brook and third-seeded Hartford.
It will be the fifth time the two squads have met in the tournament and third time in the championship game. Maine was the last squad to knock off BU in the AE tourney following penalty kicks in 2006.
The Terriers have a rich history in the America East tournament as they are 14-4-2 all-time with seven titles in the last 10 years, including three straight. As the top seed, BU is undefeated with a record of 11-0-1. Head coach Nancy Feldman is the conference's all-time leader with 14 championship victories and seven titles.
BU, which is unbeaten in 32 of its last 33 games against America East foes, boasts one of the nation's top defenses coming into Saturday's match-up. It ranks fourth in shutout percentage (70.0) and sixth in goals-against average (0.50).
In addition to being the first team in AE history to finish the league slate unbeaten and untied without allowing a goal, it has also shutout opponent for 1,097:02 minutes and 12 straight games to rank fourth all-time in NCAA history for consecutive shutouts. AE Rookie of the Year Kelly King and Goalkeeper of the Year Alice Binns have split time in net all season, combining for 14 total shutouts.
In addition its exceptional defense, BU has also sported one of the league's most prolific offenses with 2.25 goals per game. BU has tallied 45 goals this season and is now three away from tying a program record for goals in a season, previously set by the 1995 team. Graduate student and AE All-Conference First Team honoree Lisa Kevorkian and AE Striker of the Year Jessica Luscinski rank first and second with 13 and 10 goals, respectively.
Nationally, Kevorkian currently ranks 14th in total goals (14) and 15th in total points (31), while also ranking in the top 30 in points per game (1.55, 29th) and goals per game (0.65, 25th).
The winner of Saturday's game will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The field will be announced on Monday (Nov. 8) at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Tickets are $8 at the gate for adults, $5 for children (14 and under) and $2 for America East students with valid ID.
