It was a scene not typically witnessed at Northeastern.
There was a trophy with a poster that proclaimed “CAA Champions” and a cake with frosting that said the same.
Members of the media flocked to snap pictures and grab interviews with the champs. Eyes were glued to the televisions showing ESPNEWS and players reacted to the news of their NCAA Tournament destination. Nobody seemed to mind that the sparkling cider being sprayed might stain the carpet.
Thanks to the women’s soccer team, Northeastern might have to get a carpet cleaner. The Huskies came from nowhere – from just four wins a year ago – to upset the balance of college soccer and become Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Champions. Even the players said they are somewhat in disbelief at what they have accomplished.
“It’s pretty awesome. It’s definitely a comeback story,” said senior captain Brenna Matthews. “We knew coming into pre-season, and as we played a couple of games, we were going to have a more successful season than last year. When we won our fourth game we had already beaten our record from last year. We took it one game at a time and saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but overall it was totally unexpected.”
The only person who has experienced such an accomplishment is the squad’s head coach, Ed Matz. Matz came to Huntington Avenue in 1996 and coached both the men’s and women’s teams for six years. His men’s team captured the America East Championship in 2002 and made an NCAA Tournament appearance. Considering where his program was one year ago and realizing how special this accomplishment is, Matz is just one of many who couldn’t have predicted this.
“I’m not sure if I ever thought it would come. I know it’s our goal every single year,” Matz said of his team’s berth in the NCAA Tournament. “The experience is something these kids are never going to forget, and I want them to experience it, I want them to savor it, absorb as much as they can because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
As I witnessed the celebration from the Varsity Club inside Matthews Arena Monday night, I could not help but feel as though this once in a lifetime opportunity might come more than just once. Looking at the state of Northeastern Athletics, it’s hard not to feel a bit giddy.
The men’s soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament Tuesday night and is two wins away from making it a clean sweep of the CAA’s men’s and women’s soccer championships.
The volleyball team currently sits atop the conference and is favored to host the CAA Tournament at Solomon Court.
It’s not out of the question that Northeastern could add two more conference championship trophies before Thanksgiving.
Northeastern Athletics Director Peter Roby echoed my sentiments when commenting on the progress of the Huskies in the CAA.
“This school has been poised to make noise in the CAA and I think we’re finally seeing that happen,” Roby said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the women’s soccer team and the work Ed Matz has done.”
While I find myself filled with so much optimism, it is important to take this success with a grain of salt. Injuries, graduation and bad luck can change the fortunes of a program in an instant, so it’s important to stay grounded and be realistic. I do believe, however, that we are witnessing the transformation of a small commuter school with an occasional interest in sports to a major university with higher athletic expectations. Just look at the Athletics Department’s new campaign phrase “Now is the time.” Nothing could be truer.
Admittedly I am not a fan of soccer; I mainly follow the four major sports. Nevertheless, I am intrigued by the progress of all our sports and will be following the women’s soccer postseason run, as well as that of men’s soccer and volleyball.
Hopefully Northeastern will have to call for a carpet cleaner very soon.
– Patrick McHugh can be reached at
