Men’s Soccer: Late-game Lafayette score hands BU first loss

Following a two-week break from their last contest, Boston University men’s soccer fell to Lafayette  in their first loss of the season after a last-minute game-winning goal by the Leopards made it 3-2.

“I think it’s a really good learning experience for us as a group here in the early parts of the season,” said coach Kevin Nylen after the game. “[We are] disappointed not to come out of there with anything else, but that’s just the game.”

BU (1-1, 1-1 PL) came out strong, scoring the first goal in the 24th minute. Junior Gianluca Arlotti crossed in the ball, which was headered by Ronaldo Marshall only to be saved by the Lafayette goalkeeper. Marshall rebounded the save for freshman Andrew Rent to tip in for the first goal of his collegiate career.

Despite the impressive start, BU lost the lead in the last five minutes of the first half when Lafayette (4-0, 4-0 PL) scored off a free kick that was crossed in by Carte Houlihan and tapped in by Hale Lombard. With eight seconds left, the Leopards continued their scoring effort for the half with a corner kick taken by Marcos Kitromilides and headered in by David Mizrahi.

BU came back to tie Lafayette in the 60th minute from an indirect free kick inside of the box. Freshman Eitan Rosen set up the ball for Ronaldo Marshall, who struck it into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.

The Terrier’s equalizer was matched in the 88th minute when Lafayette’s Alex Sutton shot the ball in from a free kick for Hale Lombard. Lombard launched a header and and allowed Carter Houlihan to dribble the ball in the box to score.

Both teams played a very physical game with both teams earning a total of 33 fouls and a few yellow cards.

“Any time you find two teams who are competitors, you are going to find instances of [physical play],” said Nylen. “That’s what you get when you play a physical team.”

In spite of the last-minute goal from the Leopards, the Terriers fought a good battle and are looking to get their second win of the season against Holy Cross on Thursday, April 1 at 6 p.m.