BOSTON – Within a three-minute span, junior
Zion Balogun netted his first goal and assist of the season to help lead the Boston University men's soccer team to a 2-0 home victory over Harvard on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field.
Junior
Michael Stone needed just two saves, as the Terriers (3-9-1) claimed their first shutout of the year and largest margin of victory against the Crimson (0-8-1) since a 3-0 win in 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Terriers came out attacking with 11 shot attempts in the first 25 minutes with reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week Matt McDonnell firing one just wide at 3:31.
- Freshman Marc Roura put the first one on goal in the eight minute to force a save by Oskar Nilsson.
- After withstanding the storm, Harvard settled down and had a pair of dangerous crosses in the final 15 minutes of the half, as the teams went into the locker room tied, 0-0.
- The Crimson continued to pressure early in the second half with their first three attempts of the contest but were unable to get on the scoreboard.
- Balogun broke the deadlock in the 59th minute by collecting a loose ball following a long throw-in and firing a low grounder inside the left post.
- BU needed little time to double the lead, as Balogun used a cross to set up junior Toti Knutsson's header shot that was stopped by Nilsson and then the quick put away by freshman Marc Roura at 60:43.
- Harvard earned two corner kicks in the final 25 minutes but was unable to mount a rally for the shutout loss.
GAME NOTES
- BU now has five Terriers who have scored this season after Balogun (Texas Wesleyan transfer) and Roura netted their first career goals at BU.
- Balogun became the second behind McDonnell to record a multi-point performance this season and the first to have both a goal and assist this year.
- Roura moved into a tie for second on the team with sophomore Kari Petursson at four points.
- Both men and Knutsson are tied for the team lead with two assists apiece.
- The Terriers have now won three straight behind their fourth multi-goal performance in five contests while also winning their third straight at home against the Crimson.
- BU allowed a season-low five shot attempts while recording 19 of their own and posting 3-2 advantage in corners.
NEXT UP: BUCKNELL
- The Terriers will resume Patriot League play at Bucknell on Sunday (Oct. 20) with a 1 p.m. start time.
- All eight meetings between the two schools have gone to overtime with BU winning its first-ever game last season with a 97th-minute goal.
- All three previous contests in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, have ended in a draw, including the 0-0 decision in 2017.