Sept. 7, 2008

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - The Boston University men's soccer team battled Connecticut to a scoreless draw on Sunday night in non-conference action at Morrone Stadium. Through two overtimes, both defenses held strong as senior Hrafn Davidsson made four saves for the Terriers, while sophomore Josh Ford stopped five shots across the field for the Huskies.

BU improved to 0-2-1, earning its first result of the year in a season-opening string of four straight nationally ranked opponents. Connecticut, ranked third in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, went to 2-0-2.

BU made several forays into the Huskies' zone in the scoreless first half, but UConn generated the better chances in the opening frame, outshooting the Terriers by a 9-2 margin. Sophomore Shawn Nicklaw put a pair of shots on net, but both were saved by Davidsson. In the 13th minute, Nicklaw raced up the left side, but his attempt was saved at the near post. Eight minutes later, it was Nicklaw again who broke through the defense before Davidsson pounced on the ball for the save.

The second half swung more in the Terriers' favor, with BU getting off eight shots to UConn's four. Huskies junior midfielder Toni Stahl was sent off with a red card after a sliding challenge on freshman Michael Bustamante in the 76th minute, putting UConn a man down for the rest of the contest. It was the Huskies who generated the next scoring chance, though, when junior Mike Pezza ripped a bending shot that was tipped by freshman Tony Cascio before Davidsson went to the ground to make the save. The Terriers had a good chance off a set piece when Bustamante passed to junior Samuel Appiah, who set up a header for senior Jin Oh that sailed just wide.

BU kept the pressure on in the first overtime period, outshooting UConn, 5-1. Appiah and freshman Paul King each had shots that went wide, while freshman Ben Berube sent in a 25-yarder that was saved by Ford midway through the frame.

In the 102nd minute, redshirt freshman Ryan Shea sent a cross to King for a header, but his effort was once again just off target. The Terrier defense held off a strong push by the Huskies midway through the second overtime and Berube drilled a shot wide with four minutes left on the clock. BU ended the game with a 17-14 advantage in shots.

The Terriers are back in action on Friday when they travel to New York to face 22nd-ranked St. John's at 8 p.m. before returning home on Sunday, Sept. 14, to host Rhode Island at 4:30 p.m. at Nickerson Field.