Arriving at BU a year after the women’s soccer team won its last Patriot League title, in 2018, Geovanna Pereira (Sargent’22) is eager to take home the hardware this year.

Varsity Sports

Men’s, Women’s Soccer Kick Off Patriot League Conference Play This Weekend

Saturday home doubleheader pits women against Lafayette, men vs Navy

As the 2021 Patriot League soccer schedule kicks off this weekend, players, both female and male, are feeling optimistic as they return to their first normal season in two years. 

“We’re excited,” says women’s forward Geovanna Pereira (Sargent’22). “We’ve been flowing a lot better, just getting to know each other as players.”

Both the women’s and men’s teams played just four regular season games last year because of the pandemic. Second-year men’s head coach Kevin Nylen says that being able to complete a regular preseason in 2021 has been a big advantage compared to last year.  

“Preseason is the best time of the year for us,” he says. “It was good for the group just to be around one another. That kind of sets the tone for the season and the year.”

Ahead of taking on Navy this Saturday, the men began with a tricky slate of opponents that included a pair of 2020 NCAA Tournament participants: the University of New Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts. Although the Terriers are winless through five games, posting one draw and going to overtime twice, transfer midfielder Colin Innes (CAS’23) says the early testing will benefit BU in the long run.

“It was always going to be a tough first few games,” he says, “but I think going into conference play, that’s what’s going to help us. When we get into a tough game, we know we have that experience.”

Even though the Terrier men have yet to notch a win, they’ve fallen by just a single goal three times, and allowed more than two goals only once. Nylen says he’s encouraged by what he’s seen so far from his players. “There’s some good stuff from the group in terms of the soccer, the chances, the possession, and what we’ve asked them to do.”

The women’s team, which hosts Lafayette on Saturday, had a competitive opening, going 3-4-1 in nonconference action, with victories over Northeastern, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of New Hampshire. Head coach Nancy Feldman says the pieces are coming together.

“A lot of different people have been contributing,” she says. “The girls are incredibly motivated, and their spirit is amazing.”

Feldman’s squad is anchored offensively by Jenna Oldham (Questrom’22), who was a Patriot League First Team honoree a season ago. Oldham has recorded a team-high five assists and is one of two Terriers with multiple goals, alongside Margaret Berry (Sargent’22), who leads the team with three tallies.

The leading scorer on the men’s team is Brian Hernandez (CAS’25). His two-goal performance at St John’s University on September 10 snagged him Patriot League Rookie of the Week September 13. Forward Ronaldo Marshall (CAS’23) leads BU in shots, with 10.

Behind the women’s team strikers, Elle Conlin has started every game so far and leads the team in minutes played (584). Innis and defender Gianluca Arlotti (CAS’22) have the same record as mainstays in the men’s starting lineup, each playing more than 430 minutes in the first five games.

Every BU goalkeeper, men’s and women’s, holds a goals-against average of 2.25 or better so far this season. Francesco Montali (COM’23) has started all but one game between the sticks for the men, while Celia Braun (CAS’25) and Gretchen Bennett (Sargent’23) have split the net for the women.

With the blank slate of a new conference season on the horizon, both teams are confident about the road ahead. “The more we play, the more our identity has started to take shape,” Innis says. “By the end of the season, I think you’re going to see a lot of guys that are hard workers, that are winners, and that know what it takes.”

“We always have our eye on the Patriot League championship,” Pereira says. “That’s something we’re working towards, and I think we can definitely get there.”

Patriot League play begins with a doubleheader at Nickerson Field this Saturday, September 18, when the women welcome Lafayette at 4 pm and the men host Navy at 7:30 pm. Admission is free, and all the action can be streamed on ESPN+ and followed via @BUGameday on Twitter.