Men’s Soccer: Terriers Travel to American in Critical Patriot League Clash

Featured Image by Jenny Chen

By Marianne Zemmes 

Boston University Men’s Soccer (8-3, 4-1 PL) hits the road Sunday evening to face American University (5-6-1, 4-1 PL) in a crucial Patriot League matchup at Reeves Field in Washington, D.C.

The Terriers enter the contest tied for first place in the Patriot League standings with American — both holding 12 points on identical 4-1 conference records. BU has been impressive at home this season, posting a perfect 4-0 record at Nickerson Field, including last week’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colgate.

Senior midfielder Ethan Gill earned an honorable mention from the league after scoring the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute against Colgate, finishing a short cross from seven yards out. The Atlanta native’s clutch finish kept the Terriers unbeaten at home and solidified their position atop the conference standings.

Freshman defender Austin Mobray was named Patriot League Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after assisting on Gill’s game-winner. The New York native has been instrumental in helping BU post three shutouts this season while remaining perfect at home.

Anchoring BU’s backline is senior defender Quin DeLaMater, who received his second consecutive honorable mention after playing all 90 minutes in the shutout win over Colgate. DeLaMater made a crucial team save in the 67th minute and helped clear three corner kicks. He earned Defensive Player of the Week honors the previous week for his stellar performance.

Senior goalkeeper Sheraz Saadat has continued to shine between the posts, earning an honorable mention after totaling five saves in the Colgate shutout. The Virginia native made a key double save in the 56th minute to preserve the clean sheet and has helped the Terriers defend set pieces effectively.

American arrives in the matchup tied atop the standings after a 3-1 victory over Lehigh. Senior midfielder Sebastian Garces tallied two assists to push his team-leading total to four, while sophomore defender Kobe Keomany netted his first career goal. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Tibbetts recorded five saves, including a pair of sliding kick saves in the first half.

BU holds a 6-3-3 all-time record against the Eagles in a rivalry dating back to 2013, including a 4-1-1 mark in the last six meetings. The Terriers have been particularly strong on the road in the series, posting a 4-1-1 record at Reeves Field.

The teams last met on Oct. 26, 2024, when they battled to a dramatic 2-2 draw at Nickerson Field on BU’s Senior Day. The match featured two goals from graduate student forward Aidan Bone, including a late equalizer to salvage a point for the Terriers.

With only four conference games remaining before tournament play, Sunday’s matchup offers BU an opportunity to maintain its first-place position and gain an edge in the race for home-field advantage in the Patriot League Tournament. A win would give the Terriers the head-to-head tiebreaker over American in the standings.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Reeves Field, with the game available to stream live on ESPN+.