Gametracker
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Boston University men's soccer team is the fifth seed in the 2006 America East Championship and will travel to face fourth-seeded Albany in the first round of the conference tournament on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m.
In other first round action, sixth-seeded Stony Brook will play at No. 3 New Hampshire on Sunday at 3 p.m.
BU finished the regular season with a 9-4-4 overall record and a 4-3-1 America East mark. The Terriers allowed one or fewer goals in 16 of 17 games this year, and the 11 goals allowed equals the program's mark for fewest in a single season.
Sophomore Petur Sigurdsson (Hafnarfjordur, Iceland) leads the Terriers with six goals and one assist. Sophomore Jin Oh (Dededo, Guam) is second with five goals. Goalkeeper Zach Riffett (Brenham, Tex.) has a goals against average (GAA) of 0.650 and a save percentage of .831.
Albany ended the regular season 7-8-2 overall and 5-3-0 in the conference. Second Team All-America East selection Yan Gbolo leads the Great Danes with four goals and one assist. Midfielder Stephan Hall has two goals and two assists. Goalie Steward Ceus backstops Albany with a 1.38 GAA.
In the all-time series with the Great Danes, which dates back only to 2001 when Albany joined the America East, BU holds a 4-1-1. Four times games have gone into extra time - the Terriers are 2-1-1 in those games. Albany earned its only win in the rivalry earlier this month, a 1-0 win in OT.
In that game, the Terriers fell to the Great Danes after Albany scored an unlikely game-winner with 2:58 remaining in overtime.
After playing a scoreless regulation, Albany began the overtime period pressuring BU, spending much of the first three minutes in the Terrier defensive end. Boston U cleared the ball and the two teams played back and forth until 96:29 when Terrier sophomore Jin Oh (Dededo, Guam) nearly became an overtime hero for BU for the second straight game. His shot was just inches wide and it hit the upper left post.
Albany cleared it out, and Brad Ray took the ball down the center lane of the field. He passed over to Joe Hogan toward the right side of the field. Hogan's shot slipped through the BU defensive line and a surprised Zach Riffett (Brenham, Tex.) for the game-winner.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
Championship Schedule
First Round: Sunday, October 29
Game 1 – No. 5 Boston U. at No. 4 Albany, 1 p.m.
Game 2 – No. 6 Stony Brook at No. 3 New Hampshire, 3 p.m.
Game 1 – No. 5 Boston U. at No. 4 Albany, 1 p.m.Game 2 – No. 6 Stony Brook at No. 3 New Hampshire, 3 p.m.
Semifinals: Wednesday, November 1
Game 3 – Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Binghamton, 1 p.m.
Game 4 – Winner Game 2 at No. 2 Vermont, 1 p.m.
Championship Game: Saturday/Sunday, November 4 or 5
Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (at higher seed)
Game 3 – Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Binghamton, 1 p.m.Game 4 – Winner Game 2 at No. 2 Vermont, 1 p.m.Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (at higher seed)
BU In The America East Tournament
Going back to 1989 when the America East was known as the North Atlantic (NAC), BU is 11-6-3 all-time in the conference tournament ... the Terriers went 8-3-1 in the NAC Tournament and has posted a 3-3-2 record in the America East tourney ... twice games have gone into overtime, with BU splitting the contests 1-1 ... three times, the Terriers have gone into a shootout, most recently the past two years against Binghamton ... in 2004 Boston U won the shootout 5-3 but lost last year to the Bearcats 4-3 in a shootout ... BU and Albany have never met in the conference tournament ... BU’s most frequent conference playoff opponent was Hartford, playing the Hawks six times and going 3-3.
Zach Kirby Named America East Defender of the Year
Kirby, a selection to the All-Conference Second Team in 2004 and 2005, led a BU defense that turned in seven shutouts this season ... he captained a Terrier defense that limited opponents to one or fewer goals in 16 of 17 games this season ... the 11 goals allowed so far this season equals the program record set in 1985.
