Men's Soccer Rides Early Innes Strike to 1-0 Victory over Merrimack

Monday, September 5

Boston, MA

1 PM

Boston University

2-0-2

Merrimack

1-3-0

Merrimack

Boston University

Photo by: Matt Woolverton

Men's Soccer Rides Early Innes Strike to 1-0 Victory over Merrimack

September 5, 2022 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Highlights Coach Nylen Postgame

BOSTON – Led by senior Colin Innes' early strike and four saves by senior Francesco Montali, the Boston University men's soccer concluded the homestand with a 1-0 win over Merrimack on Monday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

With their second shutout, the Terriers (2-0-2) are unbeaten through four games to start a season for the first time since the 2010 squad opened 3-0-1, as the Warriors dropped to 1-3-0.

Junior Andrew Rent made an impressive run toward the box to set up Innes' goal in the sixth minute and then later hit the crossbar twice before helping BU fend off a late charge by the Warriors.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Quinn Matulis forced the game's first save in the second minute with a run toward the box that led to him attempting a shot at the far post and forcing a save from Alvaro Rodriguez.
Four minutes later, the Terriers took the lead for good when Rent sprinted down the right sideline through a pair of defenders before centering a pass to Innes for a quick juke and shot.
Rent had two quality chances of his own in the first half, first nailing the crossbar off a header on Matulis' corner at 22:42.
After Rodriguez stopped junior Eitan Rosen's shot attempt, Rent was just inches too high on his quick pouncing on the ball at 25:54.
Montali made his lone save of the half at 36:09 to keep the game scoreless entering the locker room.
The Terriers kept the pressure on through the first six minutes with three corners and six shot attempts, including three saved by Rodriguez.
Montali came up with saves at 53:03 and 57:47, respectively, before sliding on the ground to stop a low grounder for his biggest save of the game at 78:54.
The Warriors cleared BU's last corner kick in the 82nd minute but were unable to mount a comeback for the shutout loss.

GAME NOTES

Innes became the fourth Terrier to score a goal this season.
Rent now owns a team-high two assists, his most since he totaled two in the four-game shortened spring 2021 campaign.
BU finished with a 16-9 advantage in shots and 6-3 lead in corner kicks.
The Terriers earned their first win against the Warriors and are now 1-1-1 all-time in the series following last-year's 0-0 draw and 3-0 loss in 2019.
BU is 4-0-1 in its last five games at Nickerson Field dating back to last season, marking the team's longest streak since 2015 when the Terriers went 5-0-1.

UP NEXT

BU will hit the road for UMass on Saturday (Sept. 10) at 1 p.m.
The Minutemen have won the last two games by one goal apiece after the Terriers won, 3-2, in 2018.