Knutsson, Backline Shine as Terriers Stymie Lehigh Offense in 2-0 Road Win

Saturday, September 30

Bethlehem, PA

6 PM

Boston University

3-6-1, 2-0-0PL

Lehigh

6-3-0, 1-1-0PL

Boston U.

LEHIGH

Knutsson, Backline Shine as Terriers Stymie Lehigh Offense in 2-0 Road Win

September 30, 2017 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman Toti Knutsson tallied three points and the backline held the nation's No. 5 points compiler to just three shot attempts to help the Boston University men's soccer team claim a 2-0 win at Lehigh on Saturday night.

Sophomore Michael Bernardi recorded four saves for the team's third shutout of the season, as BU (3-6-1, 2-0-0 PL) snapped the Mountain Hawks' (6-3-0, 1-1-0 PL) five-game winning streak.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Lehigh committed a foul in its box, Knutsson converted on the penalty kick for the early 1-0 lead at 8:29.
Bernardi needed two saves to preserve the 1-0 halftime lead, as BU had to overcome 16 fouls.
Sophomore Mana Chavali added an insurance goal off Knutsson's assist in the 74th minute by firing a high shot from the middle of the box past two-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week Will Smith.
The Mountain Hawks earned seven corner kicks in the second stanza but only managed seven shots total for the loss.

GAME NOTES

With last Saturday's 2-0 shutout win at American, BU has avenged 2016 losses to both the Eagles and Mountain Hawks while also opening conference play 2-0-0 for the first time since 2014 ... The Terriers needed seven league games last season to eclipse five points in the standings before finishing 4-3-2.
Chavali became the sixth Terrier to find the back of the net this season, as Knutsson gained the team lead in points at five (2g,1a) by becoming the first in 2017 to post a multi-point performance.
Knutsson carried the offensive load with four of the Terriers' seven shot attempts.
Making his third consecutive start, Bernardi recorded his second shutout with freshman William Bonnelyche owning the other against Harvard.
Lehigh's Mark Forrest entered the contest No. 5 in the nation averaging 2.00 points per game with Doyle Tuvesson sitting at 72 on 1.29 ppg ... They were shutout for just the third time this season after they helped Lehigh outscore opponents, 11-3, during their five-game win streak.
BU improved to 4-2-0 all-time against Lehigh by snapping a two-game losing streak in the series and posting a 2-0 road win for the first time since 2014.
Lehigh became the first opponent this year to earn more than four corner kicks, finishing with 10 total against the Terriers' two.
The Terriers had to overcome a season-high 26 fouls, five more than the previous mark, as the Mountain Hawks finished with eight.

NEXT UP: HOLY CROSS

The Terriers return home to face their fifth in-state rival this season on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at 7 p.m.
The matchup marks the second in the third-annual Turnpike Trophy all-sports competition after BU women's soccer claimed a 1-0 home victory over the Crusaders this past Wednesday.
BU has won the last three meetings by a combined score of 6-1.