Oct. 26, 2011
America East: All-Conference Video | Complete Release
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Highlighted by senior Jessica Luscinski being named Striker of the Year for the second consecutive season, the America East regular-season champion Boston University women's soccer team has earned four major postseason awards, the league announced Wednesday afternoon.
Senior Brittany Heist (Midfielder), senior Lina Cords (Defender) and freshman forward Taylor Krebs (Rookie) were the other three award recipients. As a squad, the 14th-ranked Terriers boast the most All-Conference team members of any league member at 10 with five on the first team, two on the second and three on the All-Rookie squad.
Joining Luscinski, Heist and Cords on the first team are sophomore midfielder Kylie Strom and senior defender Katherine Donnelly. Senior goalkeeper Alice Binns and senior forward Tiya Gallegos were placed on the second team, while Krebs, forward Jamie Turchi and defender Ariana Aston received All-Rookie accolades.
Luscinski becomes just the second repeat Striker of the Year since the conference instituted the award in 2002. Also a Frst Team All-Conference forward for the third consecutive season, Luscinski is tied for the league lead in assists (7) while ranking second in points (23) and goals (8) despite missing three games due to injury. Tabbed the America East Player of the Week on Aug. 23, Luscinski is tied for third on the Terriers' all-time scoring list with 79 points.
Heist has added to the tradition of dominant BU midfielders, becoming the fourth different Terrier to be named Midfielder of the Year in as many seasons. The senior tri-captain serves as the starting point for an attack that leads the America East and ranks 16th nationally with 47 goals in 19 games (2.47 gpg). Heist, a repeat first-team selection, is tied for the league lead with seven assists to go with four goals for 15 points.
Cords carries the torch of BU defenders to earn the league's top honor, which has happened for five straight seasons. Also a captain along with Heist, Cords anchors a backline that has allowed just 10 goals in 19 games (0.53 gapg), including only one to conference foes, and has 12 shutouts on the year. A first-team defender for the third time, Cords has also contributed offensively, tallying four points on two goals and two assists.
Krebs has added an offensive punch off the bench for the Terriers and has scored when her team needed it most. Five of her six goals have been game winners, which ranks second among league leaders and t-19th nationally. Overall, Krebs is tied for sixth in goals and ranks 10th in points (13).
Several other Terriers have had standout seasons to help BU capture its fifth straight conference regular season title and enter the league tournament on an 11-game win streak. Guided by 17th-year head coach Nancy Feldman, Strom is second on the team with seven goals and four game winners. Named Monday to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week for her performance against Hartford last weekend, Donnelly has started all 19 games in the backfield and has three assists.
A forward, Gallegos has contributed 15 points off six goals and three assists, while the goalkeeper Binns has a 0.31 goals against average. Sitting at 8-1-1, she has shut out six opponents and currently has a 0.903 save percentage.
The future is bright for BU with three members being named to the All-Rookie team. Turchi was tabbed America East Rookie of the Week back on Oct. 17 after she scored the game winner against Stony Brook in a 2-0 victory. She has started nine times this season, while Aston has five on her resume this season after starting the last four contests. The defender has helped the Terriers shut out 10 opponents.
Currently on a 17-game win streak at home, BU will next host either New Hampshire or Binghamton on Sunday (Oct. 30) at 1 p.m. in the semifinals of the America East tournament.
