Women's Soccer vs. Arizona State
Date	Friday, Aug. 19 | 7 p.m.
Venue	Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Live Stats	Sidearm Stats
Watch	Patriot League Network (online)
Twitter	@BUGameDay | @BUWOSOC

BOSTON—The Boston University women's soccer team will kickoff the 2016 fall season this weekend. The three-time defending Patriot League Champions will open the campaign on Friday, Aug. 19 against a new opponent, Arizona State, at 7 p.m. on Nickerson Field before heading to Connecticut for a 1 p.m. game against the Huskies on Sunday.
 
SEASON BEGINS AT HOME
BU begins its season on Nickerson Field this year after making a six-game road trip to start the 2015 campaign. The Terriers will start things off against a brand-new opponent in Arizona State and looks to continue its success in season openers at home, as BU has won the last four when beginning the year on Nickerson Field.
 
HISTORY VS. THE PAC-12
Boston University has played four Pac-12 members previously, most recently facing Stanford in 2012. The Terriers have also faced Southern California, Utah and Washington and are 2-6-0 all time against Pac-12. BU has not defeated a Pac-12 opponent since 2011 when the Terriers took a 1-0 win at Washington. The Terriers have also hosted a Pac-12 opponent just three times previously, and are 1-2-0 against the conference at home. The last time a Pac-12 member played at Nickerson Field was in 2010 when BU hosted both Washington and Stanford.

THE SUN DEVILS
Arizona State finished last season strong, winning five of its last games to close out 2015. Junior Jessica Raybe, last year's second leading scorer, finished the season on a tear, scoring four of her six goals in the final six games of the regular season and returns as one of the team's most experienced players, playing in 37 games including 16 starts over the last two seasons. The Sun Devils defeated two Top-20 teams last season inclduing No. 14 Pepperdine and No. 18 Washington.
 
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 younget 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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