BOSTON—The Boston University women's soccer team resumes its conference schedule on Saturday at Lehigh. First kick is set for 1 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Currently ranked third in the Patriot League Standings, Lehigh is 2-2-1 in conference games and 8-3-2 overall. The Mountain Hawks defeated Holy Cross and Army West Point and tied with Loyola Maryland. Lehigh's two league losses are to Navy and Colgate.
Tori Pantaleo leads the team with five goals this season while Sabrina Mertz is the squad's leading helper, totaling three assists on the year. The offense is very diverse, however, as nine different Mountain Hawks have scored a goal this season. Sam Miller is the only goalie to see action this season and has posted a 0.52 goals against average and .883 save percentage.
CLEAN SHEETS
The Terriers have won the last four conference contest by way of the shut out, defeating American, Colgate, Loyola Maryland and Lafayette without allowing a single goal. The BU defense has allowed just 2.5 shots on net per game throughout these contests and
Bridget Conway and
Hannah Ciolek, who split equal minutes in goal, have stopped all 10 shots that came their way. Conway has not allowed a goal in the last five games, including the last outing against Harvard, during which she played the first half and the second overtime period.
TERRIERS START WITH TOUGH SLATE
Boston University began its season with one of the most difficult schedules in all of Division I women's soccer, which included two top-25 teams, No. 15 Connecticut and No. 18 Virginia Tech. Going into this weekend, the combined winning percentage of the 10 teams the Terriers began the season against is 68.2 percent (87-37-13). The 10 teams have collectively lost just 37 games at this point in the season. BU also faced three opponents for the first time in program history during the first eight games, including VT, Cincinnati and Arizona State.
BU SELECTED AS PATRIOT LEAGUE FAVORITE
For the fourth straight year, the Terriers were chosen to win the Patriot League title. BU was tabbed for the fourth straight crown by the league's coaches and sports information directors in the annual preseason poll. BU totaled 16 first-place votes and 160 total points in the poll, the most the team has ever received. Last year's runner-up, Bucknell, grabbed the remaining four first-place nods and was picked to finish second this season.
RECORD FOUR TERRIERS NAMED ALL-PL
After starting the last three straight seasons with two Terriers named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, a record four earned the honor this year with 2015 Rookie of the Year
McKenna Doyle making the list alongside classmate
Julianna Chen. Senior captains
Rachel Blauner and
Rachel Bloznalis also made the list and Bloznalis earned the added distinction of being picked as the Preseason Patriot League Defender of the Year. All four Terriers earned All-Patriot League Team honors last season and Bloznalis is the only returning first team member for this year.
CAPTAIN RACHEL(S)
Seniors
Rachel Blauner and
Rachel Bloznalis were named captains for the season. Blauner returns for a fifth year this season and serves as a captain for the second time. The pair form the backbone to the Terrier defensive unit this season. The three other seniors,
Bridget Conway,
Ellen Starnes and
Erica Kosienski will also be called upon to guide the youngest Terriers in their final year in the program.
EIGHT NEWCOMERS JOIN THE FOLD
BU welcomes eight newcomers to the fold in 2016.
Chloee Sagmoe will serve as an attacking midfielder this season while
Ann Marie Jaworski and
Jordan Bailey will be beside her in center midfield. The Terriers picked up two new defenders in
Shannon Keefe and transfer student
Royce Light, who comes to BU after playing her freshman year at NYU. With the loss of Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Alyssa Parisi, the Terriers add
Emma Heil between the posts.
Rachel Kingston and
Kelly Park round out the newcomers and will add to the attacking unit as forwards this season.
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