BOSTON – Looking to extend Boston University's lead in the second-annual Turnpike Trophy series, the men's soccer team will visit Holy Cross on Wednesday night in a critical Patriot League matchup set to begin at 7 p.m.

Holder of the Turnpike Trophy, BU is off to a 2-0 start following identical 3-1 wins in women's soccer and field hockey. The Terriers though will be even more focused, as their Patriot League tournament lives are on the line as only six teams will advance. With three games remaining, they are currently ninth in the conference standings at five points, one behind both Holy Cross and Lehigh. Lafayette and Bucknell are tied for fifth at seven points, while Army is fourth at 10 points. 

TERRIER TIDBITS

• The Terriers have been unlucky on the road with a 0-4-2 record featuring three one-goal losses ... This past Saturday, Lehigh recorded eight saves and defended against 11 BU corner kicks to snap the Terriers' three-game unbeaten streak, 1-0.
• Following its second shutout loss of the season, BU is now tied in goals scored with opponents at 18 apiece.
• Senior Felix De Bona, junior Anthony Viteri (who has missed the last two games due to injury) and freshman Matt McDonnell have combined for 15 of the 18 goals scored this season.
• In assists, five different Terriers have tallied multiple helpers with freshman Jerry Ozor and sophomore Magnus Benediktsson leading the way at four apiece.
• In the five games won, BU has outshot opponents, 81-54, but in the six losses has fallen behind in attempts, 86-63.
• Senior Matt Gilbert has started all 13 games at net and owns a 0.778 save percentage and 1.38 goals against average.

SCOUTING HOLY CROSS

• The Crusaders are in a similar boat as BU, as all of their success has been at home this season with a 5-2-1 mark ... They own key wins over Hartford, Siena, New Hampshire, Quinnipiac and Lehigh with losses to Brown (3-2 OT) and Bucknell (2-1).
• HC is currently on a seven-game winless streak with 1-1 ties against Navy, Colgate and Lafayette in conference play.
• Besides Brown, HC shares one other non-conference opponent in Northeastern ... The Terriers won at home, 3-0, while the Crusaders fell on the road, 3-1.
• Matt Villano leads the Crusaders with 16 points off six goals and four assists ... Both Arno Rupp and Joey DeVivo have four goals apiece.
• Henry Stutz (5-3-0) has started nine of the 15 games with a 0.765 save percentage and 1.42 goals against average ... Bobby Hurstak (0-4-3) has six starts with 0.645 save percentage and 1.52 GAA.

• Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2015 – @ BU 2, Holy Cross 1
  • Named Turnpike Trophy game MVP, De Bona scored on a penalty kick in the eighth minute and scored the game winner in the 29th minute after Matt Villano put the Crusaders on the board in the 11th minute.
  • The Crusaders finished with 18-14 advantage in shots and 6-1 advantage in corners.
• BU owns a 10-2 advantage in a rivarly that dates back to 1967 ... The two teams though did not meet between 1973-2009.
• In their first matchup as Patriot League foes in 2013, BU posted a 21-9 advantage in shot attempts but fell, 1-0.
• In their last trip to Worcester, the Terriers held a slight 15-12 lead in shots and used a successful free kick from then-senior Jordan Barker to prevail, 1-0, at HC.