Women’s Soccer: Terriers rack up seven Patriot League awards after undefeated regular season

By: Ethan Fuller

BOSTON  –  The Patriot League rewarded Boston University for their impressive season this week, placing five Terriers on All-Patriot League teams. Additionally, freshman midfielder Taylor Kofton won the Patriot League Rookie of the Year award, while head coach Nancy Feldman took home her second Coach of the Year title as a Patriot League participant and the 11th such honor of her coaching career.

Kofton has made waves as a rookie for BU. After taking over as a starter in early September, she has gone on to notch four goals on the year, including both of BU’s scores against Lafayette and a critical late-minute decider versus Navy. The Massachusetts native also cracked the All-Patriot League third team.

BU has now won back-to-back Rookie of the Year nods, as Anna Heilferty was recognized last year.

For Feldman, the award serves as yet another testament to her greatness in 24 years at Boston University. The regular season title marked Feldman’s 13th such achievement in a span of just 19 years. After reaching a milestone 300th victory for BU earlier in the year, she’s now 306-150-47 all-time.

In addition to Kofton, four other Terriers garnered all-conference selections. Heilferty and senior Dorrie Varley-Barrett were named to the All-Patriot League First Team. Heilferty remains a force up top, having scored five goals and added six assists (both team highs) heading into this week’s Patriot League tournament. Meanwhile, Varley-Barrett started all but one contest of the regular season for BU while anchoring a strong midfield line. She’s completed her ascent of the all-conference ladder after being named to the Second Team in 2017 and Third Team in 2016.

The All-Patriot League Second Team features a pair of Terrier seniors. Midfielder Chelsea Churchill scored the game-winner against Lehigh in September and contributed two assists on the year while starting all but one match. The veteran will head into this year’s playoffs having scored six goals in her four-year collegiate career. Meanwhile, Libby Closson is a key cog for a stingy BU defense that has allowed just two goals in all of Patriot League play. She also dished out an assist in a victory over Holy Cross.

Boston University’s five nominations ranked second in the conference behind only Colgate University, who saw seven players named to the All-Patriot League ranks.

Now, with eyes turned to the playoffs, the Terriers will focus on their upcoming game this Friday. They’ll be playing the lowest-seeded quarterfinal victor, making Army, Lehigh, or Bucknell a possible opponent. Those preliminary matchups will take place Tuesday evening, as the latter two will clash in Lewisburg while Army will take on Navy in Annapolis.