Boston College Athletics
Women's Soccer Prepares For Season-Opener Against UMass
August 28, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2001
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The 2001 Boston College women's soccer team begins its journey to the NCAA Tournament Friday, Sept. 1, when it plays the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Agawam, Mass. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Agawam High School.
Both teams enter the season looking to carry the momentum from successful 2000 campaigns into this game. Boston College finished with a mark of 14-7, while UMass closed out the year with an 11-7-1 record. This will be the first meeting between the in-state foes since 1994, which the Minutewomen won 2-1 in overtime.
Besides looking to get off to a good start this season, the game has special meaning for Boston College head coach Alison Foley's squad because the Eagles' have yet to defeat the Minutewomen in 15 previous encounters (0-14-1).
BC is optimistic it can end the drought against UMass as it returns eight of 11 starters from the 2000 team, however, the Minutewomen return nine of their starters from last season. Senior Meghan Moore and sophomore Sarah Rahko are two of the top five returning scorers from last year returning.
In her first three seasons, Moore has played and started in all 66 games. She finished last season with 11 goals and eight assists for a total of 30 points, which was first on the team. Rahko, who earned BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year honors in 2000, comes off a stellar season in which she scored eight goals and dished out a team-leading 13 assists.
One player to watch for UMass is fifth-year senior Brooke Bartlett, who is the team's leading offensive returner. The 2001 first team All-Atlantic 10 member finished the 2000 season with six goals and nine assists for a team-leading total of 21 points.
Boston College's game on Saturday will be the first of six straight non-conference matches (three home, three away) before kicking off the BIG EAST portion of the schedule on Friday, Sept. 21 at Providence.
