A Storied Rivalry Rekindled
Boston University’s women’s soccer squad kicked off its 2026 campaign with a tightly contested 1‑0 defeat to Northeastern, a game in which the Terriers outshot the opposition 11‑7 but were unable to find the back of the net.
The following day, the team traveled to face UAlbany in the first leg of a three‑match road trip, a fixture that marks the beginning of a rivalry that has seen BU win 15 straight meetings since 2001.
Head coach Sade Ayinde, now in her fifth season with the Great Danes, will look to leverage a roster that returns 16 student‑athletes, including top scorers Flo Bartholomai and Tamia Nelson, while BU’s own senior leadership group features Samantha Aronson, Helene Tyburczy, Bridgett Carr, Nina Tzouganatos and freshman Sam Ryan.
Carr, who logged two saves in the opening loss, and the full‑time backline of Tyburczy, Tzouganatos and Ryan demonstrated durability by playing the entire 90 minutes, while freshmen Elle Ceres and Ryan made their collegiate debuts.
Looking Ahead
The Terriers’ next test arrives on August 20 when they meet Fairfield at 6 p.m., followed by a showdown with UConn, as the team seeks to translate early‑season momentum into a longer unbeaten streak.
With the season still in its infancy, the Terriers are focused on building chemistry and capitalizing on their defensive strengths, hoping to extend their historic dominance over UAlbany and maintain their early‑season form.