Softball Garners National, Conference Preseason Honors
January 29, 2026 | Softball
BOSTON – Coming off a third straight NCAA regional appearance, the Boston University softball team will enter the 2026 campaign with a sizable spotlight after receiving preseason accolades from two national publications and the Patriot League coaches.
Led by 11th-year head coach Ashley Waters, BU finished atop the PL preseason poll and landed at No. 14 in D1Softball's Top-25 Mid-Major Poll. Seniors Brooke Deppiesse (2025 PL Defensive Player of the Year) and Kasey Ricard (2024 and 2025 PL Pitcher of the Year) led the Terriers on the individual honors front, as they were predicted to add to their major PL year-end awards collection while also claiming a spot on multiple elite player lists compiled by Softball America and D1Softball.
Ricard placed in the top 100 player rankings for both outlets and landed at No. 7 in D1Softball's top 100 Mid-Major Player rankings. The reigning PL Tournament MVP Deppiesse garnered a spot on both top 10 second basemen lists and joined her classmate in the mid-major list by placing No. 44. Lastly, the duo earned Preseason All-PL Team accolades alongside senior infielder Megan Coyle and junior outfielder Kylie Doherty.
The four-member freshman class made up of Madolyn Coupal, Irys Kline, Addison Michel and Mary Catherine Stanley added to the preseason recognition with all four Terriers earning a spot on Softball America's Freshman Watch List. Kline also added a spot on D1Softball's D100 Freshman Watch List.
Setting a new program record with four consecutive 39+ win seasons, BU ended the 2025 campaign ranked in the top 100 in 19 different NCAA categories, including fifth in triples (22), eighth in shutouts (16), 20th in ERA (2.63), 47th in hits (469) and 57th in RBIs (294).
Ricard (26-12, 2.16 ERA), who ranked No. 71 overall by D1Softball and No. 94 by Softball America, led the PL in wins (26), ERA (2.16), shutouts (6) and strikeouts (233), while Deppiesse batted a personal-best .421 with 57 runs scored (No. 2 all-time at BU), 17 doubles (No. 3 all-time) and battle-tested .495 on-base percentage. Coyle (.302 avg.) posted the Terriers' fourth-most RBIs ever with 51 total, helped in part by her 11 doubles and four homers, and Doherty (.338) delivered the third most HRs at 13 total alongside 55 runs scored and 46 RBIs.
The Terriers will next start the new season by opening UCF's Black & Gold Classic against CSU Bakersfield (12 p.m.) and the host Knights (3 p.m.) on Thursday, Feb. 5.
National Player/Team Rankings
Terriers – #14 D1Softball Top 25 Mid-Major Poll
Ricard – #71 D1Softball (#23 pitcher), #94 Softball America (#24 pitcher) and #7 D1Softball mid-major
Deppiesse – #7 Softball America second base, #10 D1Softball second base, #44 D1Softball mid-major
Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University – 35 (5 first-place votes)
2. Army West Point – 32 (2)
3. Lehigh – 26
4. Bucknell – 18
5. Colgate – 17
6. Holy Cross – 10
7. Lafayette – 9
Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Patriot League Softball Preseason All-League Team
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P
Annie Christiana, Army West Point, So., UTL
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Sr., INF
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Brooke Popella, Bucknell, Jr., INF
Analisa Raffaelli, Colgate, So., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Kelly Fricker, Lehigh, So., OF
Led by 11th-year head coach Ashley Waters, BU finished atop the PL preseason poll and landed at No. 14 in D1Softball's Top-25 Mid-Major Poll. Seniors Brooke Deppiesse (2025 PL Defensive Player of the Year) and Kasey Ricard (2024 and 2025 PL Pitcher of the Year) led the Terriers on the individual honors front, as they were predicted to add to their major PL year-end awards collection while also claiming a spot on multiple elite player lists compiled by Softball America and D1Softball.
Ricard placed in the top 100 player rankings for both outlets and landed at No. 7 in D1Softball's top 100 Mid-Major Player rankings. The reigning PL Tournament MVP Deppiesse garnered a spot on both top 10 second basemen lists and joined her classmate in the mid-major list by placing No. 44. Lastly, the duo earned Preseason All-PL Team accolades alongside senior infielder Megan Coyle and junior outfielder Kylie Doherty.
The four-member freshman class made up of Madolyn Coupal, Irys Kline, Addison Michel and Mary Catherine Stanley added to the preseason recognition with all four Terriers earning a spot on Softball America's Freshman Watch List. Kline also added a spot on D1Softball's D100 Freshman Watch List.
Setting a new program record with four consecutive 39+ win seasons, BU ended the 2025 campaign ranked in the top 100 in 19 different NCAA categories, including fifth in triples (22), eighth in shutouts (16), 20th in ERA (2.63), 47th in hits (469) and 57th in RBIs (294).
Ricard (26-12, 2.16 ERA), who ranked No. 71 overall by D1Softball and No. 94 by Softball America, led the PL in wins (26), ERA (2.16), shutouts (6) and strikeouts (233), while Deppiesse batted a personal-best .421 with 57 runs scored (No. 2 all-time at BU), 17 doubles (No. 3 all-time) and battle-tested .495 on-base percentage. Coyle (.302 avg.) posted the Terriers' fourth-most RBIs ever with 51 total, helped in part by her 11 doubles and four homers, and Doherty (.338) delivered the third most HRs at 13 total alongside 55 runs scored and 46 RBIs.
The Terriers will next start the new season by opening UCF's Black & Gold Classic against CSU Bakersfield (12 p.m.) and the host Knights (3 p.m.) on Thursday, Feb. 5.
National Player/Team Rankings
Terriers – #14 D1Softball Top 25 Mid-Major Poll
Ricard – #71 D1Softball (#23 pitcher), #94 Softball America (#24 pitcher) and #7 D1Softball mid-major
Deppiesse – #7 Softball America second base, #10 D1Softball second base, #44 D1Softball mid-major
Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University – 35 (5 first-place votes)
2. Army West Point – 32 (2)
3. Lehigh – 26
4. Bucknell – 18
5. Colgate – 17
6. Holy Cross – 10
7. Lafayette – 9
Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Patriot League Softball Preseason All-League Team
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P
Annie Christiana, Army West Point, So., UTL
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Sr., INF
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Brooke Popella, Bucknell, Jr., INF
Analisa Raffaelli, Colgate, So., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Kelly Fricker, Lehigh, So., OF
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ SoftballRhett's Holiday Card - Boston University Athletics Holiday Video 2025
Tuesday, December 16
Boston University Athletics - 2025 Holiday Reading Program
Saturday, December 13
Terrier Twelve #4 - Softball
Monday, August 04
BU Terriers Unleashed - Season 6 - Episode 5
Thursday, June 05
