Terriers, Eagles Clash Friday Night in PL Semifinals
November 12, 2015 | Men's Soccer
| Men's Soccer (12-4-2, 6-1-2 PL) vs. American (13-4-3, 5-2-2 PL) | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. |
| Event | Patriot League Championship: Semifinals Game #2 |
| Venue | Beyer-Small '76 Field | Hamilton, N.Y. |
| Live Stats | GoColgateRaiders.com |
| Watch | Patriot League Network (online) |
BOSTON - Currently riding a three-game unbeaten streak, the No. 2 seeded Boston University men's soccer team will face off against No. 3 American in the Patriot League semifinals on Friday night at Colgate's Beyer-Small '76 Field.
The Terriers (12-4-2, 6-1-2 PL) were one point shy of grabbing the No. 1 seed and will now have to focus their sights on winning their first conference tournament title on the road since 1997 after previously prevailing at home in 2004 and 2008. They are currently on the bubble with an RPI ranking of 31 but are focused on clinching the automatic berth and avoid needing their first at-large berth since 2007 to reach the NCAAs.
Led by 31st-year head coach Neil Roberts, they will enter the tournament with plenty of confidence, having claimed back-to-back 12+ win seasons for the first time since 1993-94. As the lone participant from last year's semifinals to return to the final four of the PL tournament, BU features three reigning conference major award winners in junior Matt Gilbert (Goalkeeper), junior David Asbjornsson (Defender) and freshman Magnus Benediktsson (Rookie) along with three other All-Conference Team honorees - junior Felix De Bona (1st), sophomore Anthony Viteri (1st) and senior Richie Robinson (3rd).
To reach their second consecutive tournament final, BU will first have to pass through arguably the hottest team in the conference, American (13-4-3, 5-2-2 PL). After dropping a 1-0 decision at home to the Terriers, the Eagles have gone on a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) with an impressive road win at No. 19 Virginia. In the first seven games, AU shut out each opponent before posting a 2-2 tie against Lehigh and 4-1 victory over Army West Point in the PL quarterfinals.
The Terriers claimed the victory over the Eagles with a fourth-minute goal by De Bona and a career-tying eight saves by Gilbert. They own seven shutouts this season but have allowed six goals in the last four games and have gone to overtime four times in the previous six contests. Overall, BU has outscored opponents, 28-17, despite opponents owning a slight 267-262 advantage in shot attempts.
The winner of the BU-American game will face off against either top-seeded and host Colgate (10-6-2, 7-2-0 PL) or No. 4 seed Lehigh (11-5-3, 4-3-2 PL) on Sunday (Nov. 15) at 1 p.m.
All four teams are in the top-75 in RPI rankings with the Terriers previously winning at Colgate, 1-0, in overtime and falling at home to Lehigh in overtime, 3-2.
