Alison Foley Hometown: Plymouth, MA Position: Head Coach Experience: 16th Season Alma Mater: Keene State '92

Alison Foley enters her 16th season as the head coach of the Boston College women's soccer program. Under her direction, the Eagles are considered one of the elite programs in the country. In 17 years as a head coach, Foley is 205-103-32 overall. Since her arrival in July of 1997, the Eagles have been explosive, outscoring opponents by nearly a two-to-one margin with 622 goals for and 325 goals against. Foley has compiled a record of 201-95-29 while at BC, while earning her third New England Coach of the Year honor in 2010.

Foley has led the Eagles to 11 NCAA berths, including nine consecutive seasons. The team, under Foley's direction has advanced to seven Sweet 16 appearances, two Elite Eights and a Final Four in 2010. She coached seven All-America players including senior Kristie Mewis, who was a first team All-ACC player and Hermann Trophy candidate, and senior Victoria DiMartino, who was a fourth team NSCAA All-American honoree in 2010. Other players Foley has guided include Laura Georges, who was a Hermann Trophy candidate in the 2006 season and Kelly Henderson, a Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2009. Three of her players are currently playing professionally - Georges in France, Arianna Criscione in Sweden and Kia McNeill in Russia (2011-12). McNeill and former forward Gina DiMartino were members of the Philadelphia Independents in the now defunct women's professional soccer league.

The 2011 season Foley guided the team to an unbeaten start as the Eagles went 9-0-2. Foley's squad finished the season at 12-6-3 overall and 6-4 in the ACC. The Eagles had key wins over non-conference foe Rutgers, and conference wins over Virginia, Maryland and Wake Forest. Foley's team outscored opponents, 37 to 15. Defensively the team was stingy as usual, with a goals-against-average of 0.68, good enough for 21st in the country. The team also posted 11 shutouts, which was 28th in the country. The Eagles made the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive season as Foley's club opened up against Marist. BC rolled past the Red Foxes, 6-1, the most goals scored by the team all season. In the second round, Boston College advanced on PK's against California. The Eagles advanced when Kristie Mewis, Alyssa Pember and Gibby Wagner all scored in the PK session, while Jillian Mastroianni made two key saves on Cal's attempts. Foley's team lost in the third round against eventual champion, Stanford.

Foley's 2011 team gained a number of national honors as the team finished ranked 15th in the country by the NSCAA final poll. Junior Kristen Mewis and seniors Jillian Mastroianni and Alaina Beyar were named to the 2011 Southeast Region team by the NSCAA. Mewis, a first team All-ACC honoree, was also a Hermann Trophy semifinalist. Mastroianni broke the program record for most career shutouts with 44, while Beyar and Julia Bouchelle were All-ACC second-team honorees. Two of the freshman - Casey Morrison and Stephanie McCaffrey - were named to the All-ACC Freshman team.

The 2010 season Boston College advanced to it's first-ever College Cup behind a stellar defense and overall team chemistry. The Eagles went 17-7-1 overall and 5-5 in the ACC. BC opened the season 10 game unbeaten streak (9-0-1), with the only scar a 1-1 overtime game vs. then No. 2 Stanford. In that stretch the Eagles upended then No. 1 North Carolina, 3-2, at Fetzer Field for the first time in program history. BC would go 1-1 in the ACC Tournament with a win over Virginia but a stunning 1-0 overtime loss to Maryland in the second round. The Eagles came home and prepared for the NCAA Tournament and hosted Boston University. The run began as BC defeated the Terriers, 2-1, followed by a second round win over Hofstra, 3-1.

Boston College hosted it's first-ever NCAA Sweet 16. BC handled No. 14 West Virginia, 4-0, behind two goals from senior Brooke Knowlton. The Pac-10 Washington Huskies came to town and senior Hannah Cerrone scored in overtime to advance the Eagles into the Final Four for a program first with a 1-0 win.

It was the second consecutive season in which Foley's team scored over 50 goals, as BC notched 51. The Eagles defense shined as well as the team posted a 0.90 goals-against-average and posted 10 shutouts. Kristie Mewis emerged as the Eagles leader on the field as she notched 10 goals and handed out a program high 14 assists. Victoria DiMartino remained the scoring machine as she notched 14 goals for the second consecutive season. BC's defense was stellar all season as Hannah Cerrone, Alaina Beyar, Alyssa Pember, Chelsea Regan and Zoe Lombard allowed opponents only 23 goals last season. BC had two players - Mewis and DiMartino - named NSCAA All-Americans, while Mewis was a Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.

The Eagles 2009 season set numerous records including most wins in a single season as BC finished up at 18-4-2 and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since the early 80's. It was also the first season in which BC earned a share of the ACC regular season title along with Florida State as the Eagles went 7-2-1 in the conference. The team opened the season with nine consecutive victories, the most since 1983 when the team earned 10 consecutive victories.

It was also one of Foley's most explosive teams offensively as the Eagles scored a program record 55 goals, breaking the previous record of 54 goals set in 2003 and 2000. BC also posted 14 shutouts behind the goalkeeping of sophomore Jillian Mastroianni and the underrated defense of Kelly Henderson, Hannah Cerrone, Alyssa Pember and Alaina Beyar. The team finished 4th nationally in shutout percentage (0.667) and seventh in goals-against-average at (0.524).

Foley's players also picked up some hardware as Jillian Mastroianni was an All-ACC first-team member, along with being named to the NSCAA All-America Southeast Region first team. She was also Soccer America MVP third team and ECAC All-Defensive Player of the Year. Mastroianni was not the only player to pick up awards as Kelly Henderson earned All-ACC second team honors and was named to the Hermann Trophy Finalist list. She was also named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region first team, along with NSCAA Division 1 All-America second team. The senior defender was also the recipient of the ACC's Weaver-James-Corrigan Scholarship.

The Eagles freshman class also picked up some major awards as Victoria DiMartino was named the ACC's Freshman of the Year and earned All-ACC first team honors. She was also an NSCAA All-America second team honoree along with Soccer America's Freshman of the Year. Midfielder Kristen Mewis earned All-ACC Freshman team honors, NSCAA Southeast Region second team and a spot on the All-Freshman team named by Soccer America.

The 2008 campaign saw the Eagles place tied for third in the ACC with a 6-3 record, while finishing the year at 15-6-2. The Eagles opened the season on the road in California as BC defeated Oregon State but lost to then No. 2 ranked Stanford. BC picked up key regular season wins over cross-town rival Boston University, as well as ACC foes Wake Forest on the road, at NC State along with three straight over Maryland, Virginia Tech and Clemson.

Boston College defeated Duke, 1-0, in the first round of the ACC Tournament. It was the first season BC earned an ACC Tournament victory. The Eagles earned their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and with wins over Central Connecticut and Northeastern advanced to the "Sweet 16". The Eagles advanced to the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years. BC lost to Florida State.

The team placed three players - Julia Bouchelle, Caroline Walden and Jillian Mastroianni - on the All-ACC second team. Foley's team placed three players on the ACC team for the first time. Bouchelle, Mastroianni and fellow freshman Alyssa Pember were also named to the All ACC Freshman team.

The 2007 team was very young but earned the fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and finished the season 11-5-4 overall, a 4-4-2 ACC record.

Boston College opened the 2007 season with a 10 game unbeaten streak as the Eagles went 7-0-3. On October 18, the Eagles took No. 11 and the current reigning champion North Carolina into double-overtime in a 1-0 loss in front of a packed crowd at the Newton Soccer Field. The Eagles bounced back with a 4-0 win over NC State and a 1-0 victory over then No. 3 ranked Virginia. In the NCAA Tournament, Boston College hosted the first-round at the Newton Soccer Field. In an epic match-up, BC and former Big East rival, UConn played through regulation and two overtimes before ending with the Huskies advancing to the next round on penalty kicks, 0-0 (5-4 PK's).

Foley's team, though young, made an impact as goalkeeper Sarah Buonomo led the nation in goals-against-average (0.38) and saver percentage (.901), while freshman Hannah Cerrone and Brooke Knowlton were both named to the ACC All-Freshman team. Cerrone was also honored as Soccer Buzz Northeast Freshman of the Year and Soccer Buzz All-America first-team.

The 2006 season saw Foley guide the Eagles to a 12-7-3 overall record and a fourth place finish in the highly-rated Atlantic Coast Conference (5-3-2). The Eagles finished the 2006 season ranked 11th nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The team reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season and advanced to the round of 16 for the third consecutive year. The Eagles also received a number of individual accolades including - two first-team ACC honorees in Laura Georges and Jenny Maurer. Georges also earned the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award and NSCAA All-America third-team. Maurer garnered a NSCAA All-Region first-team selection. Freshman Gina DiMartino was named the ACC Rookie of the Year, All-ACC freshman first-team, All-ACC second-team, NSCAA All-Region third-team, Soccer Buzz Northeast Regional Freshman of the Year and Soccer Buzz All-American third-team as well as Soccer America All-Freshman first-team selection. Under Foley's guidance, the 2005 squad had an impressive year in their inaugural season in the ACC. The Eagles went 13-6-2 overall and 5-4-1 in the conference. Boston College never fell out of the top 25 in any major poll, and placed 10th in the final NSCAA poll of the season. The Eagles recorded 13 shutouts, a new school record. For the second straight season, Boston College advanced to the NCAA round of 16, the third time in school history.

In 2004, the Eagles finished with an impressive 12-5-0 regular season record and a 7-3-0 Big East Conference record. Foley earned her 100th career win in a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 26. The team advanced to the conference semifinal round where they lost to eventual national champion Notre Dame. In the NCAA Tournament, BC defeated Florida State and Central Florida before falling to Princeton, 2-0, in the third round.

The 2003 season was the most successful for BC from the win-loss standpoint. The Eagles finished 15-3-3, defeated third-ranked Notre Dame to advance to their second-ever Big East Championship game and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Foley was recognized as the New England Co-Coach of the Year by the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA). She also earned Northeast Region Division I Coach of the Year honors, making her one of six finalists for National Coach of the Year.

In 2002, Foley led the Eagles to an 11-8-1 record, including a 4-2-0 conference mark. The season was highlighted by an 8-2-1 home record. Many of Foley's players earned postseason honors, including Sarah Rahko (first-team All-America and Big East first-team selection) and Katie McGregor (Big East All-Rookie Team selection).

The 2001 campaign saw the Eagles return to postseason play, finishing the season with an 11-10-1 record and earning an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. Individuals flourished under Foley's guidance, as Rahko earned the Big East Midfielder of the Year award, a third-team All-American by the NSCAA and Northeast Player of the Year by Soccer Buzz.

Boston College went 14-7 overall and advanced to the Big East Tournament semifinal round in 2000. A number of individuals had an outstanding season as senior defender Sarah Powell earned second-team All-America honors, as well as Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Rahko, a freshman, earned the conference's Rookie of the Year and Northeast Regional All-American honors.

A turning point in the program came in 1999. Foley helped the Eagles compile a 16-7-1 record overall and receive a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1985. The Eagles advanced to the "Sweet 16," matching the best performance by any women's athletic team in school history. Foley earned the NEWISA New England Coach of the Year Award in 1999.

In Foley's first season at Boston College, she led the team to a 9-6-2 record. In 1998, the Eagles improved to 12-6-6.

Before coming to Boston College, Foley served as the head coach at Angelo State (Texas) University. In her lone season at the helm, Foley led the Rambelles to a 4-8-3 record in 1996. Foley served on the Olympic Development Program's staff for North Texas and Virginia that year.

Prior to accepting the job at Angelo State, Foley was an assistant coach at James Madison from 1992-96 and helped lead the team to a 51-30-3 record in four years. The Dukes were nationally ranked in each of those seasons and in 1995 won the Colonial Athletic Association championship and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

A 1992 graduate of Keene (N.H.) State College, Foley was a member of the women's soccer team that made three NCAA semifinal appearances. The Owls were NCAA Div. II national finalists in 1989 and 1990.

Foley, a 1998 inductee into the Keene State Hall of Fame, earned NSCAA/MetLife All-America honors and was a four-time all-New England and all-conference selection. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team three times.

A native of Plymouth, Mass., Foley earned her master's degree in kinesiology from James Madison in 1994. She is currently a member of the NCAA regional advisory committee and has been a member of the Regional I ODP staff since 1998. Foley boasts a NSCAA Advanced National and USSF Class A coaching licenses. Also active in soccer camps, Foley runs the Lady Eagle Soccer School.

Foley resides in Newton, Mass. with her daughter, Sidnie.

Foley's Record Year-by Year