BC Draws Coveted Home Game In Opening Round

Sitting in neat rows in the Shea Room of Conte Forum, the Boston College women's soccer team was abuzz with chatter as it awaited the announcement of its NCAA tournament fate Monday afternoon. Loud music filled the room as the Selection Show began, and immediately every player fell silent.

It's tournament time – the "one and done" time of the season – and while this phrase has a scary connotation, it also serves as motivation for the Eagles to stay alive in hopes of punching their ticket for back-to-back trips to the College Cup. The NCAA tournament journey starts now.

Though the official quest for a national title begins this Sunday at 1 p.m. in Newton with the team's first round game against the Marist Red Foxes, the Eagles have been constantly groomed and challenged throughout their competitive ACC season. Need proof? Nine of the 11 ACC teams will play in the 64-team national tournament.

"There's no question we've seen it all," head coach Alison Foley said. "We're weathered. We're experienced. We've been behind in games where we've had to come back. We've seen top players in the country. The ACC prepares you—as much as it is a grind, it is the best preparation for this time of year."

The Eagles are seeded No. 4 in their bracket, which includes the No. 1 Stanford Cardinal, who cut short last year's run at a title in the national semifinals, 2-0.

Though the Eagles are coming off a loss to Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC tournament, Foley believes that the defeat is a blessing in disguise.

"In retrospect, not being in the ACC tournament is great for us," Foley said. "We're able to rest four key players and spend some time on functional training and things individuals need to work on. This week, we'll work on Marist, find out a little bit more about them and go from there."

Furthermore, Foley believes that ending on a loss is not indicative of the way the Eagles have been playing. She insists that the team is at the top of its game and will only focus on improving set pieces, both on the attack and defensively, in preparation for the Marist game.

"Coming off our two Wake games, we're playing good soccer," she said. "Those were two of our best games and we're playing with confidence. Defensively, we've been real tight. [Alyssa Pember] has been doing a great job leading the group in the back, and we've got a lot of attacking players with confidence right now."

In hopes of advancing the program even further, the five starting seniors, Pember, Alaina Beyar, Jillian Mastroianni, Julia Bouchelle, and Stephanie Wirth look to carry the Eagles to the College Cup final, one step further than last year's team, using their experience to make it happen.

"There's nothing that can replace commitment, investment, and experience," Foley said. "That's what we have with half of the starting lineup being seniors. I know that they want it. I know that they want to keep their legacy going in terms of their first year Sweet 16, sophomore year Elite Eight, and the next year Final Four. They want to be the team that brings us to the national championship game, and I know they can do it."

Coming off a demanding season of ACC play, the Eagles are ready to unleash their dangerous attack and unyielding defense in order to achieve their goal. Knowing that there could be no tomorrow, the team, behind its senior leaders, will attempt to bring that elusive title home to BC.