BOSTON—The Boston University women's soccer team returns to Nickerson Field to take on Lafayette at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. First kick is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be aired live on Patriot League Network.
Saturday's game will be the team's annual Cancer Awareness match and the squad has been raising funds all week to be donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Center. The team has been selling pink soccer balls throughout the week, which will be posted around Nickerson Field on Saturday and will be selling their pink jerseys to add to their goal of raising $1,000 for the cause. Additionally, 100 percent of ticket sales will be donated as part of the collection.
THE LEOPARDS
Lafayette is 4-4-3 overall this season but has won just one conference game this season, defeating American in their last outing, 3-0. The Leopards lost to Army West Point and Bucknell earlier this season after opening the conference slate with a tie against Loyola Maryland.
Melissa Lynskey leads the team with seven goals this season, a total that is tied for second in the Patriot League. Her best helper is Kaelin King, who leads the conference with six assists this season. Danielle Sedillo has started 10 games in goal for the Leopards this season and ranks fourth in the Patriot League in both goals against average (1.08) and save percentage (.789).
ONE GOAL WILL DO IT
The Terriers have won their last three contests by a score of 1-0, defeating American for their first win of the season two weeks ago before taking care of Colgate and Loyola Maryland. The Greyhounds gave the Terriers a run for their money, taking things into two overtime periods before
Rachel Blauner netted the game-winner in the 102nd minute.
DOMINATING THE WEEK
With two wins last week, BU had two Terriers represented in the Patriot League weekly awards, the conference released on Monday.
Rachel Blauner was named the Defender of the Week while
Jesse Shreck took home Midfielder of the week honors. This was the first time a BU player has earned an award since the first week of the season, when
Rachel Bloznalis was named Defender of the Week following excellent contests against Arizona State and Connecticut.
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 an astonishing 69.6 percent (81-32-12). The 10 teams have collectively lost just 32 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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