Men’s Soccer: Terriers Outlast Harvard 3-2 in Back-and-Forth Clash

Featured Image by Jenny Chen

By Kaan Oguz

Boston University Men’s Soccer (6-3-0, 2-1-0 PL) defeated cross-town rivals Harvard (3-3-2 0-1-0 Ivy) 3-2 in Allston, Massachusetts on Tuesday night. 

The Terriers dominated possession in the beginning of the match — but were not able to capitalize. 

In the 11th minute, BU found the lead with a great set-piece organization. Junior forward Lapo Romieri curled the free kick, and senior defender Quin DeLaMater tapped in at the back post. 

The remainder of the first half continued at a slow pace. In the 41st minute, senior midfielder Diego Rived hit a powerful strike from outside the penalty box but was denied by Harvard goalkeeper Lucian Wood. 

After going to the locker room down 1-0 with just a single shot on target, Harvard started the second half with greater energy, upping the pressing game. However, the Crimson failed to translate this energy to significant chances, and BU regained control of the game. 

After a brief exchange of shots, the first real scoring chance arrived in the 70th minute through the Crimson. Harvard midfielder Shane Lonergan hit a low shot aiming for the goal but was denied by senior goalkeeper Sheraz Saadat, who stretched out to make the save.

In the 77th minute, senior defender Quin DeLaMater, scorer of the match’s lone goal, launched a long ball out of defense that reached sophomore forward Dylan Williams. Williams slipped it inside to senior midfielder Ethan Gill, who produced a classy first touch and dribble before rifling the ball into the top right corner to double the lead.

Only four minutes later, neat interplay in the box between Lonergan and foward Ben Kelly set up forward Andreas Savva. Savva’s finish beat the Terriers’ goalkeeper, Saadat, who deflected the ball into the net. 

Motivated by their first goal, Harvard struck again less than two minutes later to draw level. Crimson defender Alejandro Palacio collected a pass from midfielder Phoenix Wooten inside the box and weaved past BU junior forward Andrea Di Blasio and freshman defender Anthony Harper to score the equalizer.

The flow of the game began to mirror last week’s clash with Boston College, when the Terriers led 1-0 all match only to concede twice in a single minute and lost. But this time, BU had the final word. 

After less than two minutes from the previous goal, sophomore midfielder Pharis Petrica crossed the ball from a free kick near midfield into the box. Amid the chaos, DeLaMater rose to nod it down, and senior defender Aidan Kieffer delivered the winning goal into an open net. 

Two of BU’s three goals came from defenders on set pieces, and although the Terriers faced late turbulence in a match they largely controlled, this time they held firm and secured the victory.

After playing the last three games on the road, the Terriers now look to face Loyola Maryland on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m in Nickerson Field.