Boston College Eagles
Overall Rank: #19
#8 ACC
Boston College Team Page
Like most teams, Boston College had trouble against the top of the ACC last season, but their potent offense was on show for all to see during the NCAA Tournament. After beating Northeastern 2-0 in the first round, the Eagles upset Big Ten squads Nebraska and Illinois. But it was not just the fact that they beat those two that was impressive…they beat both of them by a score of 4-1. But in the quarterfinals, BC ran into one of those top tier ACC teams and lost 4-0 to Florida State to end their great run.
2013 Record: 13-10-1, 6-6-1
2013 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Alison Foley
Returning Leaders:
Goals: McKenzie Meehan, Junior, F, 20
Assists: Stephanie McCaffrey, Senior, F, 9
Shots: Stephanie McCaffrey, Senior, F, 79; McKenzie Meehan, Junior, F, 79
Saves: Alex Johnson, Senior, GK, 61
Other Key Returnees: F Hayley Dowd, M Lauren Bernard, M Coco Woeltz, M Jana Jeffrey, D Casey Morrison, D Madison Meehan
Key Losses: F/M Rachel Davitt, M Gibby Wagner, M Patrice Vettori, M Kate McCarthy, D Zoe Lombard, GK Jessica Mickelson
Strengths:
Boston College returns 42 of their 49 goals scored from 2013. That is a great place to start en route to another big tournament run. Junior McKenzie Meehan netted a program high 20 goals, including a program high nine game winners. She may break her own record one or two more times before she is done. Stephanie McCaffrey is more than a complimentary player to Meehan. She will create many of those goals for Meehan and tallied nine assists in 2013, but she also found the back of the net a dozen times. Hayley Dowd and Lauren Bernard accounted for nine goals and ten assists and each totaled 14 points on the year. There is certainly no lack of a scoring power returning to a team that averaged just over two goals per game.
Weaknesses:
Now the issue is stopping teams like Florida State from scoring four goals. Alexandra Johnson was a part-timer in the net for Boston College last year and did an admirable job. She recorded four shutouts and allowed 20 goals in 17 appearances. The team’s save percentage ranked 12th in the ACC at .722, but Johnson was up at a solid .753. But Johnson will still get competition from two of BC’s best incoming recruits, Alexis Bryant and Darien Dunham. Speaking of recruits, Coach Alison Foley will hope to get some production from freshman defender Kenny Madison to help replace the departed Zoe Lombard. Casey Morrison and Madison Meehan are the two most experienced defenders on the roster.
Final Projection:
The Eagles schedule includes a couple long stretches on the road, but this is a talented team that can outscore some of the better teams in the ACC. Even reaching a .500 record in ACC play will be extremely difficult this time around, but that will not stop Boston College from making the NCAA Tournament and being a very dangerous team once they get there.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 2.04 (41st in nation, 5th in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 1.413 (196, 10)
Shutout Percentage: 0.292 (166, 9)
Save Percentage: 0.722 (267, 12)
Madness 2014 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#9 Darien Dunham
#36 Alexis Bryant
#102 Madison Kenny
See All College Sports Madness Top 44 Women's Soccer Previews
