Men’s Soccer: Terriers score two early goals to defeat American, start 2-0 in Patriot League
By Sam Robb O’Hagan
Senior forward Eitan Rosen stole two goals in the first ten minutes for Boston University (5-2-1, 2-0 PL), who defeated American University (2-3-2, 0-1-1 PL) 2-1 to start 2-0 in the Patriot League for the first time since 2017.
American controlled the second half, including a six-shot surge in the first fifteen minutes that led to the Eagles’ only goal, but the Terriers were resilient enough to profit three points from Rosen’s brace. With five wins in eight games, it’s BU’s best start to a season under Head Coach Kevin Nylen.
“There’s not much else you can ask for out of the group,” Nylen said. “To get points early on is important. That’s a really good start.”
Rosen’s brace was sudden. Both goals came from intercepted passes between the American defense, according to Nylen. The first, finished with Rosen’s left foot, crossed the line 23 seconds into the game.
“It really comes off of our shape and being patient,”Nylen said. “[Rosen] was in the right place at the right time.”
After eight minutes, the Terriers led by two and Rosen had vaulted himself to BU’s top points-getter on the season. The 83 minutes after were a struggle. But for the two critical moments Rosen was one step ahead, Nylen felt his team was a couple steps behind.
“We were a step late today, a second late to most balls and passing lanes,” Nylen said. “The cause of that, I don’t know.”
The American outfit was what Nylen’s team anticipated it would be. But BU spent most of the game on the back foot, conceding 13 shots and seven corners.
“[American] sticks to what they do and they do it very well. It wasn’t anything we didn’t expect,” Nylen said. “They just had a little more grip of the game.”
The Eagles took 13 shots, but just three challenged Senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali. Seven came from outside the box. The Terriers didn’t control, but they did resist.
“Sometimes you gotta be able to defend,” Nylen said. “We’ve grown to be comfortable to do such — being good in our shape. That’s a credit to the players.”
Senior defender Griffin Roach, the reigning Patriot League Defender of the Year, played all 90 minutes. So did Sophomore Defender Ryan Lau, and the pair have played all 180 minutes in Patriot League play so far.
BU didn’t concede in the opener against Lehigh, and were stout against a possession-based Eagles’ attack on Saturday.
Saturday’s game kicked off two-and-a-half hours ahead of schedule, at 10:30 a.m., due to inclement weather in Washington D.C. from Tropical Storm Ophelia. The game was played at George Washington University’s GW Field.
Nylen said both teams handled the scheduling change professionally. The game wasn’t broadcasted, and the neutral site didn’t provide locker rooms to BU.
“It’s like playing youth soccer and going back to the old days, just showing up to the field and playing a game,” Nylen said. “There’s nothing wrong with that. They’ve all done it before.”
The Terriers return to Nickerson Field on Wednesday, where they’ll face Holy Cross at 6 p.m.