BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the second year in a row, Boston University women's soccer graduate student
Jenna Oldham has received a major preseason award, garnering the 2022 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor, the conference announced on Thursday morning.
In addition, she and junior
Abigail McNulty earned spots on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. The Terriers were selected third in the 2022 Patriot League Preseason Poll as well.
Oldham's accolade comes after she was named the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Switching her position last season after being named last season's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, she helped anchor a back line that totaled seven shutouts and allowed more than one goal in league action just once in nine games. Despite moving spots on the field, she led the team with 15 points in 2021, sharing the team lead with four goals and seven assists.
Throughout her career, Oldham has earned a pair of All-Patriot League First Team honors. Last season, she was also selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team and invited to the NEWISA Division I Senior Bowl.
With her major preseason award, BU has had at least one student-athlete earn that distinction in seven straight seasons. Oldham joins Anna Heilferty and Rachel Bloznalis as the Terriers to be named twice in that span, and is the only one to pick up an award at different positions.
McNulty follows up her 2021 All-Patriot League First Team appearance with a spot on the preseason XI. The junior split the lead with Oldham with seven assists a season ago, and had a team-high 19 shots on target. In addition, the Stow, Mass. native was tabbed for the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Third Team in 2021.
In the preseason poll, BU received 141 points, four behind preseason favorite Navy (145) and three behind defending champion Bucknell (144). The Terriers were one of four schools to receive a first-place vote, ranking second with six. The Mids paced the league with seven, while the Bison and Loyola Maryland had five and two, respectively.
Starting its 10th season as a member of the Patriot League, BU has ranked in the top-four of the preseason prognostications in every year.
Voting for both the preseason poll and All-Patriot League Team was conducted by the women's soccer head coaches and sports information directors who were not permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
The Terriers open their 28th varsity season against Northeastern on Thursday, Aug. 18. Opening kick is slated for 7 p.m.
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Rylee Donaldson, Bucknell, Sr., F
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Teresa Deda, Bucknell, So., M
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Oldham, Boston University, Gr., D
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year: Paige Sim, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason All-League Team
Abigail McNulty, Boston University, Jr., F
Rylee Donaldson, Bucknell, Sr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, So., F
Lauren Drysdale, Army West Point, Sr., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, So., M
Katie Herrmann, Navy, Jr., M
Asia Horne, American, Gr., D
Emma Richey, Army West Point, Sr., D
Jenna Oldham, Boston University, Gr., D
Erin Keefe, Lehigh, Gr., D
Paige Sim, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
2022 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Navy - 145 (7 first-place votes)
Bucknell -144 (5)
Boston University - 141 (6)
Loyola Maryland - 116 (2)
Army West Point - 92
Lehigh - 72
Colgate - 71
Lafayette - 47
American - 38
Holy Cross - 21
