Three Terriers Claim Year-End Patriot League Honors
November 10, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 10, 2014
BOSTON - After helping lead the Boston University men's soccer team to the Patriot League regular season title, three Terriers received major year-end awards, the conference announced Monday evening.
Selected to finish sixth in the preseason poll after missing out on last season's Patriot League tournament, 30th-year head coach Neil Roberts has guided the Terriers to an 11-3-4 overall record and 6-0-3 mark in league play. He was tabbed the Coach of the Year for the eighth time by a conference and first since 2011. Senior striker Dominique Badji was named Offensive Player of the Year, while freshman back Bjarki Benediktsson earned Rookie of the Year accolades.
Both Badji (1st) and Benediktsson (2nd) also received All-Conference accolades alongside senior midfielder Jordan Barker (1st), senior back Kelvin Madzongwe (1st) and freshman midfielder David Amirani (2nd).
The 2014 regular season was a memorable one for the Terriers, as they became the first squad under Roberts in 20 years to go through a conference schedule without a defeat. Currently ranked No. 24 by the NSCAA and College Soccer News, they have just lost one game since Sept. 7, posting a record of 9-1-4.
A native of Dakar, Senegal, Badji leads BU in scoring with 18 points off seven goals and four assists to become the first Terrier since Joachim Kaland in 2001 to be honored as a conference's top offensive player. Two of Badji's tallies were game-winners, including a goal in the 65th minute of a 2-1 win over defending conference champion Navy to start the Patriot League regular season. The victory ultimately helped hold off the Mids for the top seed in this weekend's conference tournament at Nickerson Field.
Benediktsson is the eighth Terrier to be named Rookie of the Year after starting all 18 games and joins both Badji and Madzongwe in receiving the honor from a conference. A native of Iceland, he helped BU achieve eight shutouts and also delivered five assists on the year. Benediktsson was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week twice during the regular season as well.
A former America East Defender of the Year, Madzongwe (Magwegwe, Zimbabwe) had battled injuries over the last two years, playing a combined 11 games. This season, he been an imposing figure in the backline to help the Terriers earn their first regular season title since 2011.
Barker (Harrogate, England) joined Madzongwe and Badji on the first team after finishing the regular season second on the team in points at 11 with three goals and five assists. Amirani (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was one point behind with four goals and two assists to receive second team honors. Both gentlemen lead the Terriers with three game winners apiece.
The Terriers will next open the Patriot League tournament on Friday (Nov. 14) at 4 p.m. against the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals with No. 2 Navy playing at 7 p.m. The winner of the contests will face off on Sunday (Nov. 16) at 1 p.m.
