Men’s Soccer: BU Welcomes Holy Cross in Turnpike Trophy Game Wednesday Night

By: Matthew Doherty

Following an 0-5 start to the 2017 season, the young Terrier men’s soccer team has certainly turned a corner.

Since the rough beginning, where they failed to register a goal through a five game skid, BU has gone 3-1-1 and 2-0 in Patriot League play.

Highlighted by a 2-0 win at Lehigh last Saturday, the Terriers sit atop the conference standings as they welcome Holy Cross to Nickerson Field Wednesday night.

The offense has finally sorted out their kinks as the Terriers have scored seven goals in their last five games, serving as the number one key to their recent success.

Freshman Toti Knutsson has scored a goal in each of the last two games, and leads the team with a pair of goals. Fellow underclassmen Matt McDonell and Mana Chavali are tied for second on the team with a goal apiece.

Both Knutsson and Chavali scored in the 2-0 win over Lehigh.

The youngsters contributions have helped result in wins and ease the burden off seniors Adam Sheikhali and Eric Mubang, who each have one goal as well.

Meanwhile, the BU defense has played consistent all fall long, no matter whose in net.

After freshman William Bonnelyche went down with an injury, sophomore Michael Bernardi pitched a shutout in each of his Patriot League starts.

On Wednesday, Bernardi will look to add another clean sheet to his resume against a Holy Cross that is 1-0-1 in Patriot League play and knocked off Lafayette, 2-0, last Saturday.

The Crusaders average less than one goal per game, so expect the match to be low scoring.

With both teams providing stout defenses, the match will come down to who can make enough plays on the offensive end and find the back of the net.

That was something the Terriers struggled with at the beginning of the season, but the growth of the team’s offense has propelled them to a hot conference start.

If one of the Terrier forwards can make a play, like they’ve been doing, BU has the defense and goalkeeper to win a 1-0 game and start 3-0 in the Patriot League.

Kick-off from Nickerson Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be seen live on the Patriot League Network.

The winner of the game will earn a point in the Turnpike Trophy contest, which is a year competition between the BU and Holy Cross athletic programs.