Men’s Soccer: BU draws Bucknell 0-0, Clinches PL Tournament Bye

By: Matthew Doherty

LEWISBURG, PENN. — Thanks to their 0-0 draw at Bucknell Saturday afternoon, the BU men’s soccer team clinched a quarterfinal bye in the Patriot League tournament, and guaranteed a top-two finish in the league standings for the third time in four years.

The Terriers are now in sole possession of first-place in the PL standings with a 6-1-1 record, good enough for 19 points; second-place Loyola Maryland sits right behind BU, with 18 points, at 6-2.

On Saturday in Lewisburg, BU outshot the Bison 15-5, but only three of those attempts were on net. And while the Terriers tripled Bucknell in shots, none of them were able to find twine.

Both Toti Knotsson and Sachel Cortet had quality looks in the 89th minute but neither shot crossed the line as the first was saved while the other went wide.

Sophomore Michael Bernardi recorded his sixth shutout of the season, needing to make one save in the 95th minute. The shutout was the Terriers seventh overall and sixth in the Patriot League.

It was the first time BU had been shutout since a 1-0 loss at UMass on September 9th.

BU is now 7-7-3 overall with just one conference game remaining. They will be back action next Friday at 5 p.m. when Colgate comes to Nickerson Field. 

Depending on Loyola Maryland’s result against Lafayette, BU could have a chance to win the league title in that match.