Men's Soccer Blanks Colgate in Season Opener, 3-0

Saturday, March 13

Hamilton, NY

1 PM

Boston University

1-0-0, 1-0-0

Colgate

0-2-0, 0-2-0

Boston University

Colgate

Photo by: Justin Wolford

Men's Soccer Blanks Colgate in Season Opener, 3-0

March 13, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Coach Nylen Postgame

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Boston University men's soccer team started the Kevin Nylen era in impressive fashion, scoring three second-half goals to claim a 3-0 victory at Colgate on Saturday afternoon.

The contest marks the largest margin of victory for the Terriers (1-0) in a season opener since they beat UMass, 3-0, in 1998 and also makes Nylen the first coach to win in his debut after the previous five went a combined 0-4-1 dating back to 1949.

Sophomore Ronaldo Marshall struck first at 50:29 with an assist from junior Gianluca Arlotti. Sophomore Ryan Lee (56') and freshman Aidan Holmes ('77) added two more goals that were not needed, as freshman Andrew Wike and senior Michael Stone combined for five saves at net in the shutout victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Colgate had the first good look in the second minute when it earned a free kick from 25 yards out, but Stone was in position to smother the cross aimed at the right post for a charging Raider.
After successfully clearing a BU corner kick, the Raiders had another opportunity in the 13th minute when Justin Weiss took a centering pass and rifled a near point-blank shot at the net to force a diving save from Stone.
The Terriers had two quality looks of their own toward the end of the half, as they eventually found freshman Eitan Rosen at the top of the box for a quick shot attempt that was blocked by the well-positioned defender.
Marshall had an open look in the 37th minute following. a BU corner but wasn't able to put full contact on the ball and watched the shot glide right of the post.
The Raiders held a 5-3 advantage in shots at the half with Stone earning two saves.
Starting the second half, Wike made a diving save of his own to keep Colgate off the scoreboard at 48:51.
The play proved key, as BU broke the scoreless deadlock at 50:29 when Marshall used his upper body to chest a cross from Arlotti toward the right post for the 1-0 advantage.
Five minutes later in a perfect give-and-go, Lee made a pass to Rent and then sprinted into the box to collect the ball back and fire past the diving keeper to extend the lead.
Trying to mount a rally, Colgate hit the crossbar at 73:31 and went wide left on the rebound attempt.
The Terriers themselves nailed the crossbar when Rosen set up Roura's shot attempt on the counter, but Holmes was able to successfully head the ball inside the right post.
Wike added two more saves in the final 15 minutes to seal the shutout.

GAME NOTES

Of the seven players to earn at least one point today, Roura was the only one to be a returning contributor after he totaled four (1g,2a) his freshman season.
Arlotti, freshman Joao Soares de Souza, Rent, Lee and sophomore Kenneth Huang played all 90 minutes.
Colgate finished with a slight 13-12 advantage in shots despite BU posting 5-3 lead in corners.
Wilson Fitzgerald made two saves for the Raiders.
While he's the first to win his debut, Nylen is coincidentally the second to earn his first victory against Colgate after the now retired Neil Roberts (1985-2019) earned a 2-0 victory in Hamilton, New York on Sept. 7, 1985.

NEXT UP: HOLY CROSS

The Terriers will next host the Crusaders on Sunday, March 21, at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.
Holy Cross snapped a six-game winless streak in 2019 with a 1-0 road victory at Nickerson Field despite BU finishing ahead in shots, 9-6.