BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After securing a quarterfinal bye for the first time since 2017, the Boston University men's soccer team was honored with two major awards and six All-Patriot League honors, the conference office announced Friday afternoon.

Senior Francesco Montali claimed the Terriers' second-ever Goalkeeper of the Year award from a conference since the honor became available in 2002, and classmate Griffin Roach became the fifth to be tabbed the top defender. The first BU recipients of their respective honors since 2015, Montali and Roach were named to the All-PL First Team alongside senior midfielder Colin Innes. Senior midfielder Quinn Matulis was placed on the second team, while both junior forward Andrew Rent and graduate student defender Evan Morrison were selected to the third team.

"We are all very excited for the guys to be honored," said head coach Kevin Nylen. "Individual accomplishments are great but the recognition today represents our entire program. We continue to look forward to our PL tournament game on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field."

The Terriers concluded the regular season second in the PL standings after missing out on the tournament a year prior in eighth place. With eight total shutouts, they currently rank 17th nationally in save percentage (.797), 18th in shutout percentage (.471) and 25th in team goals against average (.882). Highlights of the year include BU claiming its first top-10 victory since 2009 with a 1-0 win at then-No. 9 New Hampshire and starting the year unbeaten through the first four games for the first time since 2010. The Terriers also went unbeaten through at least seven conference games for the first time since 2014 and earned their first-ever road win against defending PL champion Loyola Maryland.

Montali has been a key reason for BU's success with 15 starts at net. A native of Davie, Florida, he ranks seventh nationally in save percentage (.833), 12th in solo shutouts (7) and 15th in goals against average at .671, which would be the best GAA by a Terrier keeper since 2006 if the season ended today. Named Goalkeeper of the Week on four occasions, Montali posted five saves in the shutout against UNH and tallied a season-high seven saves for BU's first shutout (0-0) against Boston College since 2012. His save of the year occurred when he dove to stop a penalty kick attempt from Lehigh's All-PL First Team honoree Jack Sarkos.

Anchoring the backline all season, Roach had a stellar save of his own as a defender in the regular season finale at Holy Cross when he slid with his leg outstretched to knock a low grounder out of bounds in front of an empty net. A native of Canton, Massachusetts, he became the first PL player in conference history to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Week awards in October. He scored his first career collegiate goal with a header off a free kick in the 2-0 win against Bucknell and followed up on his team save against the Crusaders with a long pass that set up the game's first goal.

Joining both Montali and Roach in earning their first-ever All-PL award, Innes ended the regular season tied-for-first on the team with four goals and second in points at nine total. The Olathe, Kansas, native tallied back-to-back goals against Merrimack and UMass before striking again against Army to end the month of September. Focusing more of his energy on helping direct traffic, he later scored the game winner against Bucknell and tallied his first assist of the year in the win over Lehigh.

BU's lone representative on the second team, Matulis, had a standout October. A former 2020 WAC Tournament MVP and All-Freshman honoree, the Oak Park, California, native, he first scored the equalizer in the season-opening 1-1 draw at Albany before adding an assist in another tie vs. Saint Joseph's. He assisted on both goals in the win over Bucknell and added the game winner against Loyola before striking twice for the brace during the 2-0 victory over Lehigh. 

Morrison returned for a fifth year and had his best regular season yet to claim his first All-PL award. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native played all 90 minutes in the backline against UNH to garner PL Defender of the Week accolades and followed up in the next contest with his first career collegiate assist against Saint Joseph's. He played all 90 minutes in both shutout victories over the Greyhounds and American as well.

Previously named to the second team as a freshman, Rent came back from an injury-plagued sophomore campaign to lead the Terriers with a personal-best five assists. The Gorham, Maine, native first set up Matulis' goal against the Great Danes and then found Innes for back-to-back scores against Merrimack and UMass. He helped BU rally with the 73rd-minute equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Navy and later ended the regular season by assisting on the last two goals against the Mountain Hawks and Crusaders.

The Terriers will next host as the No. 2 seed in the PL semifinals an opponent to be determined on Tuesday (Nov. 8) at 6 p.m. in search of their first title game appearance since 2014.

2022 Men's Soccer All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Gage Guerra, Army West Point, So., F
Midfielder of the Year – David Jackson, Navy, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Griffin Roach, Boston University, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Francesco Montali, Boston University, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Max Andrews, Army West Point, Fr., D
Coach of the Year – Brian Plotkin, Army West Point

First Team
Gage Guerra, Army West Point, So., F
Marcos Kitromilides, Lafayette, Sr., F
Jack Sarkos, Lehigh, Sr., F
Kelan Swales, Loyola Maryland, Gr., F
Cooper Warren, Army West Point, Jr., M
Colin Innes, Boston University, Sr., M
David Jackson, Navy, Jr., M
Nick Atkinson, Army West Point, Jr., D
Griffin Roach, Boston University, Sr., D
JD Wagner, Navy, Sr., D
Francesco Montali, Boston University, Sr., GK
 
Second Team
Robbie Matei, American, Jr., F
Aidan Davock, Colgate, Jr., F
Evan Jones, Holy Cross, So., F
Baba Kallie, Navy, Jr., F
Evan Schweickert, American, Jr., M
Quinn Matulis, Boston University, Sr., M
Hale Lombard, Lafayette, Jr., M
Cooper Nunn, American, Jr., D
Max Andrews, Army West Point, Fr., D
Nick Hazel, Lafayette, Sr., D
Matthew Lala, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Alex Sutton, Lafayette, Sr., GK
 
Third Team*
Andrew Rent, Boston University, Jr., F
Lawrence Aydlett, Lafayette, So., F
Noah Ward, Navy, So.
Zemi Rodriguez, American, So., M
Sam Epitime, Army West Point, Jr., M
Alejandro Coury, Colgate, So., M
Mike Bleeker, American, Jr., D
Evan Morrison, Boston University, Gr., D
Will Echeverria, Lafayette, Sr., D
Tomas Hut, Army West Point, So., GK
 
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
* Due to a tie in the voting, there are 12 members on the second team and 10 members on the third team.