Coming into the fall 2010 semester, all that was a true given in athletics was the women’s volleyball team. The Lady Beacons won 30 games in 2009 and 25 in 2008, thus becoming a near lock to win somewhere in that area once again. However, it was the other teams that raised some eyebrows that made the fall semester an overall success. As recently as three years ago, sports were an afterthought and a struggle for a proud and diverse commuter school. Now though, Beacon athletics are heading in a positive direction and giving students, faculty, and alumni something to talk about. In part one of two, both of the Beacons soccer teams are looked at.
Men’s soccer:
To be honest, heading into the season, the soccer team was not expected to accomplish much. Coming off of a 4-12 2009 campaign, the only direction the Beacons could go in was up and even that was going to be difficult to accomplish. The Beacons had an extremely young team with only five of the twenty-two players on the roster being upperclassmen. After winning their first game against Suffolk 1-0, the Beacons then proceeded to lose their next 8 games making a very difficult hole to climb out of. Half of those losses were by one goal, so it was not like the team was getting crushed during the losing streak. The Beacons wound up winning five of their last eight games, ending the season on a positive swing. Finishing 3-4 in the conference is something the Beacons are looking on improving next season as well more consistent play to avoid a lengthy losing streak. Even though the record is not what the team was hoping for, the Beacons did have some bright spots on the field. Freshmen sensation Stefanos Galouzis came home with the LEC rookie of the year as well as a member of the all LEC first team. Galouzis wound up with 12 goals, 4 of them game winning, while starting in all 15 games that he played in. The other member of the All LEC First team was sophomore defender Verly Jean. Jean played in 15 games, starting 14 of them. His job was the complete opposite of Galouzis. Jean was responsible for covering the opponent’s best player and excelled each and every time out. The streak of positives continues as the Beacons are only losing one player, though an important one, in graduating captain Alex Cavallero. Look for a revamped and reenergized Beacons squad looking to cause some havoc in the Little East.
Women’s Soccer:
The Lady Beacons were a disappointing 8-12-3 during the 2008 season, so heading into the 2009 season, UMass Boston and the rest of the LEC saw the girls as a middle tier team. The Lady Beacons shocked the school and the conference by winning a school record of 14 games. So naturally, expectations were much higher heading into the 2010 season than the 2009 season. The Lady Beacons did not disappoint, tying the school record with 14 wins again and advancing all the way to the ECAC New England championship tournament semifinals. The girls lost in the finals of the LEC tournament 1-0 to Western Connecticut, but still had a good enough regular season record to advance to the ECAC tournament. The Lady Beacons hosted a home playoff game as the #3 seed against Norwich in a very impressive 3-2 victory. The Lady Beacons season would come to a close a mere 3 days later in the ECAC New England championship tournament semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Endicott College. This was the best Lady Beacon season in recent memory and there is no reason as to why this should not continue again next season. The Lady Beacons were led by a pair of 10 goal scorers in freshmen sensation Tayla Andrews with 16 goals and 4 assists. Helping out the scoring load was senior Kristen Mulry added in 10 goals and 3 assists. The team also had outstanding play from UMass Boston’s other women’s soccer freshmen sensation in Katie Coscia by posting an eye popping 1.27 goals per game including 8 shutouts. One player, Samantha Place was first team all LEC while Andrews, Mulry, Kimberly Campbell, Samantha Cristoforo, and Alli Modezelewski all received second team all LEC honors. It should also be noted that Place is the first Beacon soccer player to ever be on an LEC All Conference team each of her first three years. With only four seniors leaving, one being Campbell, and the other co-captain Lauren Vargas the Lady Beacons have their other five award winners coming back plus their soon to be All-Conference goalie in Coscia. Look for the Lady Beacons to not surprise anyone and go into next season as one of the favorites in not just the LEC, but the ECAC New England Championship tournament as well.
