Terriers Clinch PL Tourney Bye with 3-1 Senior Day Win over Loyola Maryland

Saturday, October 28

Boston, MA

1 PM

Boston University

9-3-4, 6-1-1PL

Loyola Maryland

6-2-8, 5-1-2PL

Loyola Maryland

Boston University

Photo by: Jon Ratner

Terriers Clinch PL Tourney Bye with 3-1 Senior Day Win over Loyola Maryland

October 28, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Highlights Innes-Coach Nylen Postgame

BOSTON – After recognizing the senior class, the Boston University men's soccer team scored three second-half goals to win the battle of unbeaten streaks against Loyola Maryland, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

By ending the regular season unbeaten at home (6-0-2) for the first time since 1994, the Terriers (9-3-4, 6-1-1 PL) have moved atop the Patriot League standings with one game left and have also secured an opening round bye for the upcoming conference tournament. BU also handed the Greyhounds (6-2-8, 5-1-2 PL) their first road loss of the season and their first defeat since Aug. 27.

Loyola struck first with the help of a deflection in the 53rd minute, but senior Griffin Roach headed in the equalizer off graduate student Colin Innes' corner in the 73rd minute. Innes came back with a successful free kick at 76:11, and senior Eitan Rosen delivered the knockout punch at 85:19.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Terriers pressured the Greyhounds' backline for most of the first half, posting a 10-2 advantage in shots.
After BU earned a corner in the second minute, Innes arched a shot that forced a leaping save from Dylan van der Walt.
On the second corner, sophomore Alex Bonnington's header was just off the mark at 17:47.
In the 24th minute, senior Ryan Lee ripped a shot that was saved by van der Walt, and Rosen headed the rebound wide of the left post.
Rosen had another chance at 30:51 with a quick touch that went wide and a hard shot that nailed the crossbar at 65:21.
Following a scoreless first half, Brandon Meminger took a shot outside the box that deflected off a Terrier defender high over Montali into the back of the net to put Loyola ahead, 1-0.
van der Walt earned a pair of saves to keep BU off the scoreboard until Roach's header at 72:42.
After earning the assist, Innes grabbed the lead for good with a terrific free kick inside the left post from 25 yards out.
Rosen added the third goal at 85:19 when he recieved a pass from freshman Luke Dunne and made a couple of quick moves into the box to set up a low shot past van der Walt.
Trying to mount a rally of their own, the Greyhounds hit the post on a penalty kick at 86:21 and saw Montali stop a shot a minute later for the loss.

GAME NOTES

Rosen became the first Terrier to net eight goals since Felix De Bona and Anthony Viteri accomplished the feat in 2016.
Innes collected his seventh assist, the most by a Terrier since Anthony Ciccone posted seven in 2013. Innes also earned his second 3+ point performance of the year after recording a goal and two assists against Holy Cross on Sept. 27.
Roach became the sixth Terrier to tally multiple goals this season, while Dunne became the 14th to earn at least one point.
The Terriers posted a season-high 19 shots while holding the Greyhounds to 12 attempts and earning a 3-2 edge in corners.
BU tied the all-time series, 5-5-3, winning back-to-back games for the first time following last year's 1-0 road win. The Terriers snapped a three-game home losing streak, last winning in 2015 (2-1).
The Terriers scored three goals against the Greyhounds for the third time in 13 games with a 3-3 road draw in 2016 and 3-1 home victory in 1991.

UP NEXT

With 19 points and Loyola sitting at 17, the Terriers will wrap up the regular season at last year's conference regular season champion, Army West Point, on Wednesday (Nov. 1) with a 6 p.m. start.
BU will be seeking its first conference regular season title since 2014.