Innes' Brace Propels Men's Soccer to 2-0 Patriot League Semifinal Victory over Colgate

Tuesday, November 7

Boston, MA

6 PM

Boston University

11-3-4

Colgate (PL Semifinals)

8-10-2

Colgate

Boston University

Photo by: Jon Ratner

Innes' Brace Propels Men's Soccer to 2-0 Patriot League Semifinal Victory over Colgate

November 7, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Highlights Innes and Zacarias Postgame Coach Nylen Postgame PL Tournament Central

BOSTON – Boosted by graduate student Colin Innes' first career brace and a stellar defensive effort that allowed just two shots, the top-seeded Boston University men's soccer team claimed a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Colgate in the 2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Championship Semifinals Tuesday night at Nickerson Field.

Remaining unbeaten at home with a 7-0-2 mark, the PL regular season champion Terriers improve to 11-3-4, while the Raiders see their season come to an end at 8-10-2. With No. 3 Lafayette upsetting No. 2 Loyola Maryland in overtime, 2-0, down in Baltimore, BU will host the Leopards with an automatic NCAA tournament bid on the line Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m.

Innes broke the scoreless stalemate in the 82nd minute with help from sophomore Giuseppe Bagnato and added an insurance score in the 86th on a pass from freshman Jason Zacarias. Senior Francesco Montali collected the shutout without needing a save.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams recorded just one shot apiece with Colgate's Cason Stafford lofting a cross high over the crossbar at 23:27.
Innes made a move around a defender in the 34th minute to rip a shot but another defender was in position for the block.
The Terriers earned the game's first corner kick in the final minute of the half, but the Raiders' Andrew Cooke grabbed the cross to keep the game scoreless.
Cooke also stopped corners in the 68th and 80th minutes, respectively, as the Terriers dominated possession for much of the second half with senior Eitan Rosen sailing a shot over the crossbar at 59:09.
Bagnato helped BU grabbed the lead for good with a quick pass to Innes, who ripped a shot just outside the box past the keeper at the far post.
With the Raiders pressing for the equalizer, BU converted on a counter, as Zacaris drove up the field and fed Innes for a quick grounder toward the right post.
Colgate earned a free kick at 86:42 and a corner kick at 88:49 but were unable to threaten, as the Terriers earned the shutout.

GAME NOTES

Innes earned BU's second brace of the season after Rosen accomplished the feat at American.
Zacarias became the third Terrier to earn at least three assists, joining Innes (7) and senior Andrew Rent (3).
Bagnato became the 12th Terrier to record an assist and the 16th overall to earn at least one point.
BU finished with a 4-2 advantage in shots and 3-0 lead in corners.
The Terriers improve to 10-4-3 all-time in the series, as the teams met in the PL tournament for the first time.
BU snapped a six-game winless streak (0-2-4) in the PL tournament with its first victory since eliminating Army West Point, 1-0, in overtime in 2014.
The Terriers last defeated an opponent by more than one goal with a 2-0 America East semifinal victory in 2004 over Stony Brook as the top seed. They would next claim the title via penalty kicks against Binghamton.

UP NEXT

No. 1 BU will host its second ever Patriot League title game on Saturday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m. against No. 3 Lafayette.
The Terriers suffered heartbreak in overtime back in 2014 and will try seeking their first NCAA bid since claiming an at-large berth in 2015.
The Leopards upset No. 2 Loyola Maryland, 2-0, and are the only PL squad to beat BU this season, a 2-0 decision in Easton, Pennsylvania, back on Oct. 14.