Men’s Soccer: Terriers let late lead slip in draw against BC

By Charlie DeMatteo

Boston University Men’s Soccer (1-2-6, 1-0-1 PL) drew 1-1 against Commonwealth Avenue rivals Boston College (3-2-4, 0-2-1 ACC) on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field in Boston.

After snatching a late lead thanks to a goal from junior forward Damola Salami, BU let the victory slip after conceding just minutes later to let the Eagles back into the game.

“The performance I think was as complete as we have had this season,” BU head coach Kevin Nylen said. “It was a strong, committed performance.”

A cagey start to the game saw neither team pick up any kind of rhythm. However, in the seventh minute, Salami broke down the right flank for the Terriers and bodied BC defender Christian Bejar before unleashing a whipped effort towards the BC goal. Inches away from a spectacular finish, Salami’s finish was too high to trouble Brennan Klein in goal.

BC responded with a big chance of their own four minutes later as BC set up a huge chance for Ask Ekeland. Max Andrews sent in a perfect ball from the right flank where Ekeland found himself unmarked, but his glancing header went wide to the right and did not trouble junior Sheraz Saadat in the Terrier net.

BC continued their positive momentum in the 15th minute when Marco Dos Santos danced around the box and delivered a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. Thankfully for the Terriers, sophomore defender Charlie Tuckerman was there to clear the danger.

As the first half progressed, sophomore midfielder Jason Zacarias and Salami continued to progress the ball forward for BU, but to no avail as the game remained scoreless 20 minutes in.

BU and BC proceeded to trade huge chances in the 25th and 27th minute.

The Eagles and Ekeland found themselves clean through on goal after the Norweigan forward chipped a pass through to Dos Santos, but Saadat made an outstanding save in his first start of the season to keep the score 0-0.

Immediately after that chance, BC were caught out in defense as a giveaway handed a huge opportunity to junior forward Andrea Di Blasio for BU. Di Blasio had acres of space in the box but Klein was equal to it to deny the Syracuse transfer a goal.

BC finished the first half as the better of the two teams but neither team managed to get on the scoreboard before the half-time break. Nylen utilized his bench to try to stave off the pressure from the Eagles.

“You have to have depth and we believe in our guys,” Nylen said. “I believe that our depth is as strong as any team and we have to continue to utilize that.”

The Terriers started the second half on the front foot in the 52nd minute when junior midfielder Daniel Kim glided into the six-yard box but had his effort deflected and saved by Klein in net.

Immediately after, Saadat was called into action again for BU as he saved Xavier O’Neill’s shot from close range with an outstanding save down to his right-hand side.

“I thought it was unbelievable for a guy to come in nine games into the season into a local derby and hold down the line,” Nylen said. “I’m so pumped for him.”

In the 59th minute, BC had the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag went up almost immediately to rule out the goal.

BC continued to be the more dominant team in the second half. In the 70th minute, Ekeland had another chance to put BC ahead after a nice passage of play from the Eagles down the left flank, but once again, Saadat made the save to keep the score 0-0.

With just under 10 minutes to play, BU’s best outfield player on the day, once again, stepped up. In the 80th minute, Salami found himself on the edge of the box with a bit of space where he unleashed a half volley on his weaker right foot that flew past Klein to make it 1-0 BU.

“Damola is a guy this year who has come in and given us valuable minutes,” Nylen said. “I thought he stretched the defense because he obviously has some pace and power to him.”

BU’s lead would only last a few minutes though, as BC won a free kick on the right flank that would lead to the equalizer. Diego Ochoa snatched the leveler for the Eagles after a stellar delivery, and for once, Saadat could do nothing to keep it out as BC tied things at 1-1.

BC and Ochoa had another opportunity to win the game in the final minute as Ochoa blazed over an effort in front of an open goal following a free kick.

BU will look to continue their positive start to Patriot League play when they travel to Lehigh on Saturday with kickoff set for 6 p.m.