Men’s Soccer: Terriers Tie American in Nail-Biter Patriot League match-up on Senior Day
By Anna Rozinsky
Boston University Men’s Soccer (3-3-9, 3-1-3 PL) tied the American University Eagles (4-5-6, 3-2-2 PL) after a physical game during the Terriers’ last regular season game at Nickerson field.
The Terriers honored their seniors during the pregame ceremony, with nine players (Neal Carson, Daniel Kim, Andrew Kent, Tyler Johnson, Andrew Soczynski, Aidan Holmes, Kevin Torres, Aidan Bone, and Andrew Wike) being celebrated before kickoff against American.
After kickoff, the game remained steadily in the middle of the field for the first ten minutes of the game. Terriers maintained possession for the majority but struggled to break through into the offensive third. After a yellow card on the Eagles defenseman Taku Takahashi, the Terriers got their first look in the 14th minute with a scramble in the box that was smothered by American University goalkeeper Matthew Tibbets.
Once BU got a good look at the net, momentum picked up, with some more offensive plays that were quickly slowed to a halt after midfielder Jason Zacarias received a yellow in center field.
Momentum swung in the Eagles’ favor after that, building back up into the Terriers’ defensive end, and being rewarded with a free kick on the edge of the box. A kick served in the box from Takahashi bounced off several players and wound up in the back of the net as an own goal on BU, making the game 1-0 Eagles.
After kicking off again at center field, the Terriers regained control of the game as they maintained possession as they neared the 20th-minute mark, getting closer to the net and being rewarded with the first corner of the game.
After another yellow card – this time against American University freshman Oliver Snowdon – in the 30th minute, BU took the free kick and wound up in a dangerous position on the right side of the field, and a cross from Terrier Diego Rived led to a one time finish from graduate student Aidan Bone, his third goal of the season, leveling the game at 1-1.
The remainder of the half settled into a similar tempo of the first ten minutes of the game – a physical back and forth in the midfield with a few breakout chances but no dangerous plays from either team.
The Terriers started off their second half with five changes made after no substitutions in the first, giving the starters some time to rest. Some early fouls from BU – including two yellows on Daniel Kim and Aiden Holmes – gave the Eagles some scoring chances with the Terriers trying to fall back into the rhythm they had at the end of the first half.
The Eagles built up from the back in the 57th minute and from a well-placed through ball from forward Dilane Zouantcha to Ethan Boyle that led to a 1-v-1 with BU keeper Andrew Wike, and American University went up 2-1.
After some more back and forth, BU had a chance on a breakaway that was stopped by a dangerous play from American defenseman Nicholas Shirley, who was then given a red card and taken out of the game. The Eagles then were down a man with almost thirty minutes left to play.
From the kick awarded off the red card, BU got a good look at the net, and off a rebound, the ball winded up in the back of the net but was called back after being waived offside.
As the clock winded down, the Terriers were looking to even the game back out. The game remained physical, but American had dropped back into a more defensive formation in an attempt to maintain their lead.
BU continued to maintain possession and keep the ball in their offensive third. The Terriers had some good looks late into the half, hitting the post several times or sending it just wide, even a bicycle kick attempt made on target by forward Andrea Di Blasio that Tibbets couldn’t fully cover that gave a good rebound chance to the Terriers.
With just three minutes to play, the Terriers are awarded a corner kick, taken by Di Blasio, that winds up in the back of the net but is yet again called by the ref due to a foul in front of the net.
The unlucky Terriers fight their way back into their offensive half after the foul kick is taken, and with another combination from Rived to Bone, BU ties the game 2-2 with less than two minutes to play.
As the clock wound down, BU gave one final push, and the whistle blew and the result was a hard-fought tie.
BU Head Coach Kevin Nylen had this to say after the game: “Finding that goal late, to take that point, it’s a big point and they’re a tough side”.” When we wanted to play in our rhythm, I thought we were good”.
The Terriers take on Navy in an away game on Friday, November 1st, at 7 pm as they continue to try and hold on to their place in the Patriot League standings.