Departments
Sports
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Week of 26 September 1997 |
Vol. I, No. 5 |
Sports
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Approximately $150,000 was
raised for Boston University's endowed scholarship
program at the sixth annual Boston University Golf
and Tennis Tournament on September 22. The
tournament, which took place at The International
golf club in Bolton, Mass., was presented by Barnes
& Noble and Beacon Properties. Putting is
Boston University Trustee Ed Masterman. Watching
the action are, from left, former Red Sox slugger
Carl Yastrzemski; Tino Galluzzo, BU Alumni vice
president for alumni giving; and President Jon
Westling. Photo: BU
Photo Services
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Men's Soccer aims to get back on winning trackGame Preview by Brian Fitzgerald Good, better, bested. In early September the Boston University men's soccer team was on a roll with a 4-0 record, its best start since 1994, when BU posted a school record of19 victories. In their first three games this season the Terriers outscored their opposition 9-1 and achieved a national rank of eight. But BU's offense looked shaky in its 1-0 victory over Northeastern Sept. 1. Then, on September 8 the Terriers barely escaped from the Ocean State with a 3-2 overtime victory. Although Rhode Island scored first, BU scored last -- in the 15th minute of overtime for its fourth victory. Still, BU had been forced to tie the game to send it into overtime. It was clear that the Terriers were jarred by Rhode Island. And then came the California earthquake. Competing for the Diadora Cup in San Diego, BU lost 3-0 to California State on Sept. 12. Two days later the Terriers managed to eke out a 1-1 tie against San Diego. Offensive woes were the story as BU had six shots on goal to San Diego's 15. "We just didn't have the legs against Cal State," says Coach Neil Roberts. "And even though we didn't beat San Diego, we were optimistic when we came back from that trip." However, taking the field in western Massachusetts proved to be just as perilous as playing on the West Coast. On September 20, BU lost to UMass-Amherst, 2-1, in overtime. Currently ranked ninth in the country in the Soccer America poll and 15th in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll, the Terriers' national standing is expected to take a bit of a dive after being upset by the Minutemen. Nonetheless, Roberts refuses to let the UMass game get his team down. "We had plenty of chances to win, but UMass scored two crazy goals," he explains, adding that UMass's Totman Field is 10 feet narrower than regulation fields. New fields must be built with a length of 110 feet and a width of 75 feet. But a minimum width of 65 feet is allowed for older fields. "A smaller field makes throw-ins dangerous, and UMass scored both of their goals on throw-ins," he says. BU's first America East opponent on September 25, the University of New Hampshire, is another college that plays on a smaller pitch. "But we tend to gear up for our conference games," he says. "We're healthy and we should be all right if we start taking care of business right now." The Terriers' offense is anchored by the one-two punch of Nick Bone (SMG'98) and Sigurd Dalen (SMG'99), who combined for 60 percent of BU's goals last season. Dartmouth, which BU hosts September 28, is ranked sixth in New England, BU is ranked second. The Big Green is 1-0 in Ivy League play and 2-1 overall, but Roberts admits Dartmouth's talent isn't the first thing on his mind. "We've got to be more concerned with our play," he says. The Middlesex School, in Concord, Mass., is 19 miles west of Boston. From Route 128 north take exit 29B to Route 2 west. Go straight at the second stoplight and follow the sign to Concord center. After the Colonial Inn take a quick left and then a quick right around the Inn onto Lowell Road. The school gate is 2.7 miles on the right. |
Athletes of the Week
Teresa Petruccelli and Annalisa Rodovsky
Two women's soccer midfielders from the Empire State, Teresa Petruccelli (CGS'01) and Annalisa Rodovsky (CAS'00), helped the Terriers pull off what was arguably the biggest victory in the three-year-old program's history: an upset win over Southern Methodist University, the eighth-ranked team in the nation.
Petruccelli was named America East Player of the Week for her performance in the James Madison University Tournament on September 19 and September 21.
Against Southern Methodist on September 19 Petruccelli, a freshman, scored the game's first goal. BU ended up shocking SMU 3-2 in overtime. Two days later, in BU's loss to James Madison, her goal forced that game into overtime. However, BU lost, 3-2. Petruccelli, from Flushing, N.Y., had scored 95 goals as a varsity starter for St. Francis Prep School.
Rodovsky's scoring touch not only forced the SMU game into overtime, but also won the contest. Both of her goals beat goalkeeper Erin Poole on passes from back Alicia Waag (CGS'00), giving BU its fourth victory of the season. She also scored an unassisted goal against James Madison. Last season the native of Chappaqua, N.Y., led the Terriers in scoring with 11 goals.
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