Men’s Soccer: Terriers Clinch First Round Bye with OT Winner

By: David Souza

After tying the Army Black Knights last Saturday, the Boston University Terriers (12-4-2, 6-1-2 PL) knew they had to win their final game of the season at the Naval Academy if they wanted a chance to host the Patriot League Championship. Going into double overtime against the Midshipmen (8-9-1, 4-5-0 PL), BU knew they had to bear down, and they did just that.

Navy opened the scoring in the 17th minute of the game when senior P.J. Suess took a cross from fellow sailor Michael Parker before booting a shot past Boston University’s Matt Gilbert. Parker was able to collect the ball at the end line of the Terriers’ zone before quickly crossing it back to Suess just ten yards away from the goal. The marker came as a result of a heavy Navy onslaught in the game’s opening quarter where they reeled off six shot attempts, two of which were saved by Gilbert.    

While the Midshipmen carried that lead into halftime, it was the Terriers who came out controlling the game in the second half. That offensive pressure eventually paid dividends for BU in the form of a T.J. Butzke goal. The play developed when Iceland native David Asbjornsson sent a cross over to the open freshman before Butzke headed the ball past the outstretched hands of Navy goalkeeper Jackson Morgan. While BU kept up the pressure in the second half with four shots on net, nothing seemed to creep past Morgan.

Boston University’s best chance at putting the game away in regulation came with about ten seconds left. Junior Felix De Bona was able to create a high quality scoring chance on Morgan, but the Somerville, MA native was unable to thread the ball past a desperate Morgan.

As the teams went into overtime, the Terriers knew that this was their last chance to keep their Patriot League Regular Season Title hopes alive.

Navy pressed hard at the beginning of the overtime period, but soon faltered as Butzke and the Terriers pressed forward, looking for that first round bye in the Patriot League.

While BU was not able to muster up in the first overtime, it was the second when a leak sprung in the armor of Morgan, though he has no Terrier to blame for it. At the 107:25 mark in the game, Boston University was awarded a corner. On the ensuing set piece, the Terriers were unable to convert the cross; but, shortly after, BU sent a shot on net in hopes of winning the contest in the closing moments. Shortly after doing so, a member of the Midshipmen backline jumped up and attempted to clear the ball to safety. In doing so, the ball redirected into the back of the Navy net, winning the game for the Terriers.

The Terriers’ next game is slated for the Patriot League semifinals on Friday, November 13, 2015at Colgate.