2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Final
#1 Boston University (11-3-4, 7-1-1 PL) vs. #3 Lafayette (9-5-6, 4-2-3 PL)
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 11 | 1 p.m.
Venue: Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMSOC

BOSTON – Hosting its first PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship game in nine years, the top-seeded Boston University men's soccer team will battle No. 3 Lafayette Saturday at Nickerson Field with a 1 p.m. start time.

Admission is free for fans, who will also be able to get free pizza. Those unable to attend can watch the action on ESPN+.

BU reached its second overall PL title game by blanking No. 4 Colgate, 2-0, on Tuesday night behind graduate student Colin Innes' brace. The Leopards started off by edging No. 6 American at home in penalty kicks and then shutting out No. 2 Loyola Maryland, 2-0, on the road. The Terriers and Lafayette will now meet in a conference tournament for the first time.

Coincidentally, both the Terriers and Leopards are on five-game unbeaten streaks. The Terriers are 4-0-1 since falling at Lafayette, 2-0, on Oct. 14, and are 8-1-4 over the last 13 contests. The Leopards fell to Loyola following the win over BU and rebounded with three ties against PL squads before beating the Greyhounds in the rematch.

TERRIER TIDBITS

• BU is 6-2-2 all-time in conference championship games, including 3-2-2 as the top seed. The Terriers dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime decision to Bucknell in 2014 after previously winning the 2008 America East title against Binghamton.
• The Terriers are seeking their first NCAA bid since claiming an at-large berth in 2015.
• BU is on a 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3) at home dating back to last season. The Terriers went 6-0-2 to finish a regular season unbeaten for the first time since 1994.
• On Tuesday, the Terriers were presented a program-record five major conference year-end honors. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year and senior Eitan Rosen leads BU with eight goals and two assists for 18 points.
• A two-time All-PL First Team honoree, Innes is second in goals at four while owning seven assists, the most by a Terrier since 2013.
• Six Terriers have earned two or more goals, including two-time PL Defensive Player of the Year Griffin Roach. Converting on a pair of headers, he has helped the backline limit opponents to 8.8 shots per game, the lowest amount since BU joined the PL in the summer of 2013.
• Two-time PL Goalkeeper of the Year Francesco Montali has started 16 games at net, boasting a .739 save percentage and 0.75 goals against average with seven shutouts.
• BU owns a 10.4-8.8 advantage in shots per game with opponents leading in corner kicks, 79-65.

SCOUTING LAFAYETTE

• Lafayette is 6-3-1 on the road compared to its 3-2-5 home mark with four road wins against the PL competition. The Leopards avenged an earlier 2-0 defeat at Loyola by eliminating the higher-seeded Greyhounds in the semifinals, 2-0.
• Hale Lombard leads the Leopards with 11 goals (four in PL play) and 26 total points, while Benji Grossi owns a team-high five assists.
• Griffin Huff has started 14 contests at net, posting a .719 save percentage and 0.62 goals against average with eight shutouts.
• Lafayette has nearly doubled opponents in shots per game, 12.0-7.4, while owning an 107-83 advantage in corners.

SERIES HISTORY

• Lafayette leads the all-time series, 5-4-2, dating back to 2013.
• The Leopards are on a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) following an earlier 2-0 home victory, last year's 0-0 draw at Nickerson Field and a 1-0 overtime home win in 2021.
• BU last won in 2017 with a 2-0 road victory. 
• The Terriers are 2-1-2 all-time at home, last winning in 2016 (1-0).

UP NEXT

• The winner will learn its placement in the NCAA tournament bracket on Monday (Nov. 13) with the NCAA.com selection show set to begin at 1 p.m.