BOSTON – Helping welcome students back to campus, the Boston University men's soccer team will host the Haiti National Olympic Team on Sunday as part of the 11th annual Terrier Tailgate festivities with action set to begin at 4 p.m. There will be free admission for the matchup.

Terrier fans are encouraged to arrive early at Nickerson Field to receive a free rally towel. There will also be food, music and other fun activities taking place. Gates will open at 3 p.m. 

PARKING ADVISORY

• Fans are advised to use public transportation to attend the game, as parking will be unavailable on campus due to students moving back onto campus.

• Men's Soccer participated in the first-ever Terrier Tailgate on Sept. 1, 2007 when a then-program record 5,111 fans watched rival Boston College edge the Terriers, 1-0, on a 78th-minute goal.
• The two squads met again on Aug. 31, 2015 in front of a staggering 7,379 fans, which marked the highest attendance ever for a collegiate soccer game in Massachusetts ... The Eagles prevailed with an 80th-minute score in the 3-2 thriller.

• So as to not take away the shine from the World Cup, Olympic-qualifying squads are limited to players under the age of 23, except for three overage players ... The 2020 Summer Olympics will take place in Tokyo.
• Haiti has never participated in the Summer Olympics but did reach the final round of qualifying in 2015 for the first time since 2008 by advancing to (and winning) the Caribbean Zone final against Cuba ... The 2015 CONCACAF Men's Qualifying Championship featured eight nations competing for two Olympic berths – United States, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, Cuba, Canada, Costa Rica and Panama ... Haiti failed to get out of Group B play with 1-0 losses to both Mexico and Honduras and a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica ... Mexico eventually won the title and was joined by runner-up Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
• Haiti's National Team currently ranks 55th in the FIFA World Rankings.  

• Nickerson Field originally opened in 1915 as Braves Field, home of Major League Baseball's Boston Braves ... BU purchased the field in 1953 after the Braves moved to Milwaukee and turned it into a premier multi-sport venue.
• The site has served as home for many professional teams, including the New England Patriots from 1960 through 1962 ... No team has played at Nickerson Field longer than Men's Soccer, which began play in 1949 ... Several professional soccer clubs have called Nickerson Field home, allowing fans to see some of the world's greatest players.
• In 1975, Nickerson Field experienced Pele-Mania when the Boston Minutemen of the North American Soccer League (NASL) featured Portuguese legend Eusebio against the New York Cosmos and one of the world's most famous athletes, Pele ... There was a lot of hype surrounding the game because the two famous athletes would be meeting on the field for the first time since Portugal beat Brazil in the 1966 World Cup ... An over-sold crowd of 18,000+ fans showed up to the game and approximately 1,000 crazed fans charged the field after Pele appeared to tie the game in the second half (ref later ruled Pele committed a foul before the shot attempt), prompting a halt to the game and allowing police to escort Pele off the field safely.
• A founding member of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the Boston Breakers played at NIckerson Field from 2000-03 and were led by two-time World Cup champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kristine Lilly along with Maren Meinart, who appeared in three Wrold Cup Finals with Germany ... The Breakers made their first home appearance on May 5, 2001 and dropped a 1-0 decision to the Atlanta Beat in front of more than 11,000 fans ... Mia Hamm was one of the recognizable opponents to step on the pitch. 

• The Terriers have had several alums compete on the international stage and in the professional ranks.
• BU Hall of Famer Mike Emenalo ('89) won 14 caps for Nigeria and competed at the 1994 World Cup ... He is currently the sporting director (general manager) for Chelsea FC in the Premier League. 
• Another BU Hall of Famer and current assistant coach, Francis Okaroh ('86) spent several years in the MLS, winning the Cup in 1998 with the Chicago FIre ... Current director of operations Andy Dorman ('03) spent several years with the New England Revolution and in Great Britain while also earning a cap with the Wales National Team.
• BU Hall of Famer Cheche Vidal ('84) competed with the Venezuelan Olympic Team in 1984, and Hall of Famer George Karalexis ('68) was an alternate on the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team. 
• Recent alum Dominique Badji ('14) currently leads the Colorado Rapids in the MLS with six goals and five assists.