BOSTON – The 12th-ranked Boston University women’s soccer team (9-2-2, 2-0-1 AE) will take to the field tonight when the University at Albany (4-8-1, 1-2-0 AE) comes to Nickerson Field for a 7 p.m. contest. The Terriers enter the game riding a five-game unbeaten streak.

THE TERRIERS: In this week’s NSCAA poll, the Terriers landed in the 12 spot. The squad defeated Yale, in overtime behind freshman Farrell McClernon’s goal in the 97th minute. McClernon has made a habit of scoring important goals in crucial games, as she followed the Yale win with a strike in the 72nd minute to elevate the Terriers past then-undefeated Maine. BU ended the week with a scoreless draw with Vermont on Sunday, Oct. 1.

For her efforts, McClernon was named America East’s Player of the Week on Monday. The West Chester, Pa., native was the first freshman to be recognized as a Player of the Week during the 2006 season. It was the second conference honor bestowed on McClernon this year, as she was the season’s first AE Rookie of the Week. The accolade also marks the third consecutive week and fourth overall where a BU women’s soccer player has been acknowledged by the conference office. McClernon was also named to the Soccer Buzz National Elite Team of the Week as well as the ECAC Player of the Week.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Terriers are now undefeated at Nickerson Field in 17 consecutive games. The streak dates back to their 1-0 win over Hofstra on Sept. 4, 2005. Since then they have posted 13 wins and four ties.

ERWIN-MCCLERNON CONNECTION: Senior co-captain Lauren Erwin (Orange, Conn.) has assisted on three of McClernon’s five goals this season. All three of the goals were game winners and two came in overtime. The pair first linked in the season opener against then-No. 10 Boston College. Their most recent heroics came in overtime against Yale and 22nd-ranked Maine, extending the Terriers win-streak to four games.

TERRIERS IN THE RANKINGS: The BU defense has remained stingy all season, as it has held its opponents to just 51 shots on goal in 13 games. Currently the club ranks 13th in the nation in shutout percentage (0.69) and 28th goals-against-average (0.59), while individually senior Stephanie Dreyer (New Rochelle, N.Y.) is 10th in GAA (0.398) and save percentage (.894). Dreyer sits atop the America East standings in shutouts per game (0.75) and is second in GAA (0.398).

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES: At 4-8-1 overall, the Great Danes have already surpassed their win total from the 2005 season. Under the direction of first year head coach Mary-Francis Monroe, a four-time All-American at UConn and UCLA, Albany has also snapped a conference winless streak with its 3-1 victory over Vermont on Thursday, Sept. 28. They have doubled their goal production from 2005 with 20 goals this season.

Albany began the season with losses to Hartford, Monmouth and Niagara, before earning a win at Delaware State on Sept. 1. The Great Danes posted a commanding 6-1 win over New Jersey Institute of Technology on Sept. 17. They posted back-to-back wins with a 6-0 victory at Howard and their 3-1 triumph over Vermont. Most recently, Albany traveled to Binghamton, but fell 1-0. Leading the offense is Jaclyn Rosada (six goals and one assist) and Diana Barrera (four goals, three assists). Maria Liquori (2-4-1/1.97 GAA/.727 save pct.) and Ashley Nuessle (2-4-0/2.48 GAA/.714 save pct.) have shared netminding duties.

THE SERIES: The Boston University women’s soccer team has never lost to Albany in the series history, which dates back to the 2001 season. In addition, in each of the five meetings the Terriers have recorded shutouts over the Great Danes.