Sept. 11, 2013
Box Score | Watch Highlights | McGuire's Postgame Comments
BOSTON - In a fast-paced, physical game that featured a combined 36 shot attempts and 33 fouls, the Boston University men's soccer team earned a 2-1 victory over Hofstra on Wednesday night at Nickerson Field. With their first win of the year, the Terriers improve to 1-2-0, while the 2012 CAA runner-up Pride drops to 1-2-1.
Facing an early one-goal deficit, the Terriers rallied back later in the first half with a penalty kick from junior Dominique Badji and score from sophomore Mac McGuire off a cross from senior Anthony Ciccone. Guarding the net, junior Nick Thomson posted six saves, including four in the second half, to preserve the victory.
Hofstra struck first at 7:02 after taking advantage of a failed clear attempt by the Terriers. The Pride played a cross toward the box and a BU defender headed the ball up the middle. Elliott Firth collected the ball and fired through multiple defenders toward the left post past a diving Thomson for the goal.
BU had multiple chances beforehand to score first with two corner kicks in the sixth minute. Junior Jordan Barker set up freshman David Asbjornsson for two strong headers, but Hofstra blocked one and saved the other with perfect positioning.
Ciccone put Hofstra's keeper Roberto Pellegrini under pressure in the 23rd minute, blasting two hard shots with the second curving toward the far post. Finishing with five saves in the contest, Pellegrini stopped both attempts.
He had no chance though at 29:04 against Badji, who was attempting to head in a corner from Ciccone when fouled in the box. On the penalty kick, Badji sent a low roller toward the right post while Pellegrini looked on defenseless.
After catching another impressive header by Asbjornsson at 33:01, Pellegrini could only watch as Ciccone fired a cross from the left side to McGuire, who flew past a defender to flick the ball into the net for the 2-1 advantage.
Playing without 2011 America East Defender of the Year Kelvin Madzongwe after he accumulated two yellow cards last Friday at No. 1 UConn, BU entered the locker room ahead in both shots, 14-7, and corner kicks, 7-2.
Hofstra tried desperately to find an equalizer by pushing the ball up quickly in the second half. BU had nine fouls in the final 45 minutes, giving the Pride opportunities to convert off set pieces. However, Thomson and the backline stopped multiple runs and ran off the clock moving the ball around before the Terriers made charges of their own.
Attempts by Asbjornsson and Badji were blocked by the Pride at 73:25 and 76:09, respectively. Hofstra recorded four shots in the final eight minutes, but Thomson only needed to save one as the others sailed wide of the net.
Avenging last year's 2-1 loss at Hofstra, the Terriers are now 5-4-1 in the all-time series after the Pride made its first trip to Nickerson Field since 2000 when both teams were members of the America East.
BU will next continue its four-game homestand against Monmouth on Saturday (Sept. 14) at 7 p.m.
