Oct. 26, 2013
Box Score | Postgame Comments | Watch Replay on PLN | Highlights
BOSTON - The Boston University men's soccer team scored early in the first half and added an insurance goal late in the second to earn a 2-0 victory over Loyola Maryland at Nickerson Field on Saturday night. With their fifth shutout of the season behind three saves from redshirt freshman goalkeeper Matt Gilbert, the Terriers improve to 5-8-1 and 2-4-0 in league play.
A preseason All-Conference honoree, junior Dominique Badji put BU on the board in the 15th minute when he received a pass inside the box from senior Anthony Ciccone and rifled toward the right post for the 1-0 advantage.
Helped by Ciccone's fifth assist of the season, Badji moved into a tie with sophomore Lucas McBride in goals scored at three apiece. However, the striker took the lead back in the 79th minute by quickly collecting a pass from senior Evin Nadaner and sending it past the diving Zach Kane for the 2-0 lead. Junior Jordan Barker was also credited with an assist on the score.
The Greyhounds (5-7-2, 0-5-1 PL) had their opportunities to find the back of the net, starting in the third minute with their first of three corner kicks in the game. Jamie Libby and David Warburton both had attempts but BU's defenders were in position for the blocks.
In the 23rd minute, Loyola advanced a long goal kick toward the Terriers' net with Diego McQuestion collecting the ball after multiple touches and blasting a shot from 25 yards out into the hands of Gilbert. The Greyhounds put Gilbert under pressure at 43:26 during a counter attack, but the keeper was able to make a save on a point blank shot from Stephen Dooley.
Gilbert made his third and final save at 56:52 on a shot from McQuestion, as the Terriers prevented Loyola from getting a shot off in the final 30 minutes of action. Freshman David Asbjornsson nearly had his first goal of the year for BU at 64:54 when his header off a corner from Ciccone went just a little too high and nailed the crossbar.
Facing the Greyhounds for the first time since 1992, BU finished the game with a 15-6 lead in shots with Badji owning a game-high five attempts. The Terriers also had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks and were able to prevent Loyola from taking advantage of 17 free kicks.
The three points from the win were essential for BU, as the Terriers remain in eighth place in the conference standings but only two points behind No. 4 American (2-2-2 PL). There is currently a three-way tie for fifth between Bucknell, Lafayette and Colgate at 2-3-1, and only the top six squads advance to the conference tournament.
The Terriers control their destiny though as they will next hit the road for two Patriot League games, starting with Colgate on Wednesday (Oct. 30) at 7 p.m. They will then visit American next Saturday (Nov. 2) and host Bucknell a week later on Saturday, Nov. 9 in the season finale.
