Oct. 23, 2012
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BOSTON - After recognizing the contributions of seniors Michael Bustamante and Max White, the Boston University men's soccer team will kick off against Binghamton on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the final home game of the 2012 season.
Still in the hunt for an America East regular season title, the Terriers (5-7-4, 2-1-2 AE) will enter the contest with confidence after Saturday's dominating 2-0 victory over Albany that snapped a two-game losing streak. Sophomore Nick Thomson needed just two saves for the team's fifth shutout, as sophomore Parker Powell and redshirt-freshman Mac McGuire provided BU with a goal apiece.
The contest marked a reemergence of a stagnant offense that was held to two goals over the last three contests. With his header, Powell increased his season total to a team-high five goals, while McGuire improved to four. Both Powell and Bustamante are now both tied at the top with 10 points, as the senior has three goals and four assists.
Wednesday's game will be the last one at Nickerson Field for Michael Bustamante, who will leave the Terriers as one of the top midfielders to play at BU. He is currently just one of six Terriers to have earned three All-Conference First Team accolades since 1995 and is trying to become the first ever to receive four awards. Named conference Midfielder and Rookie of the Year in 2008, he has battled injuries coming into this year but still has 27 assists, just one shy of tying for seventh all-time at BU.
A defender, Max White will also be playing his final home game with the Terriers. He earned All-Rookie Team honors his first season on the field and has helped BU shut out 14 opponents over the last three years. In 2012, he and the backline have stopped five teams, including then-No. 10 Boston College back on Aug. 27. Thomson currently has a 0.732 save percentage and a 1.30 goals against average.
While the Terriers are looking to keep the momentum going, the Bearcats (6-8-0, 2-3-0 AE) on the other hand are trying to stop their free fall after dropping the last three conference games by a combined score of 4-1. Binghamton started the league schedule with wins over New Hampshire (2-1 OT) and Albany (1-0) before losing to Stony Brook (2-1), Vermont (1-0 2OT) and Hartford (1-0).
Though its offense has been held in check recently, Binghamton still has firepower in Jake Keegan, who has nine goals and three assists for 21 points, second best in the America East. Adam Whitehead has five assists, while Robbie Hughes has two goals and two assists.
On the defensive end, Stefano Frantelizzi has seen most of the action this year with a 4-5-0 record. He has a 0.629 save percentage and 13 goals allowed. As a team, the Bearcats have earned shutouts against Buffalo, Adelphi and Albany.
The Terriers and the Bearcats first met in 2002. Winning three of the last five contests, BU holds a 6-4-4 advantage in the all-time series, including a thrilling 1-0 victory for the America East title back in 2008 at Nickerson Field. Binghamton will mark the final America East opponent, as BU will join the Patriot League in 2013.
Banned from the America East tournament due to its upcoming change in conference affiliation, the Terriers will end the 2012 season at New Hampshire on Saturday (Oct. 27) with action set to begin at 7 p.m.
