Boston University (0-0) vs. UAlbany (0-0)
Date & Time: Thursday, Aug. 24 | 7 p.m.
Venue: Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMSOC

BOSTON – The Boston University men's soccer team will open its 75th season by welcoming the University at Albany to Nickerson Field on Thursday night with first kick set for 7 p.m. The two former America East rivals will square off following the completion of the women's soccer contest against Rhode Island that will begin at 4 p.m.

Admission is free for fans, and 2023 team schedule posters will be available at the marketing table on the Nickerson Field concourse, while supplies last.

TERRIER TIDBITS

• BU was selected to finish second in the Patriot League preseason poll after finishing, 6-5-7, with a 4-2-3 record in conference play for second place.
• The NCAA implemented a rule prior to the start of the 2022 season that overtime would only be implemented in postseason action, leading to the Teriers posting a program record seven draws.
• The Terriers went 4-1-5 at home with a 1-0 non-conference win over Merrimack and 0-0 draw against ACC rival Boston College.
• BU is returning both top goal scorers in graduate students Quinn Matulis and Colin Innes. Both men tabulated four goals apiece with Matulis adding four assists for a team-high 12 points.
• Senior Andrew Rent is back after leading BU last fall with five assists, while junior Daniel Kim tallied three helpers.
• On the defensive front, the Terriers are led by reigning Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Francesco Montali and Defensive Player of the Year Griffin Roach. Montali posted a .839 save percentage and 0.62 goals against average last season.
• Sophomore back Ryan Lau finished fourth on the team at 1,202 minutes played and was ranked No. 89 in TopDrawerSoccer.com's Top-100 Freshmen list.
• This year's squad features five newcomers, including sophomore Alex Bonngton after he appeared in four games for Duke last season. BU has four freshmen in forward Keke Abai, goalkeeper William Clavier, freshman back Luke Dunne and midfielder Jason Zacarias. 
• Last season, opponents finished with a slight 185-183 edge in shots and 91-90 lead in corners with BU coming out ahead in goals, 16-15. 

SCOUTING UALBANY

• The 2022 America East tournament runner-up Great Danes were selected to finish tied-for-third in the AE preseason poll after posting a 6-8-6 record and 3-1-3 mark in conference play.
• UAlbany went 3-6-2 on the road with a notable 1-0 victory at then-No. 8 Vermont to reach the AE title game.
• Saad Faiz is the top returning goal scorer at three scores with an assist, while Tiago Dias had two goals alongside two assists.
• The Great Danes return both keepers who saw action last season. Shafique Wilson (5-5-5) collected eight shutouts alongside a .824 save percentage at 0.87 goals against average in 15 starts, while Daniel Shannon (1-3-1) earned one shutout with a .647 save percentage at 2.40 GAA.
• Last season, opponents posted a 12.7-9.3 advantage in shots with a 100-86 lead in corners. 

SERIES HISTORY

• BU leads the all-time series, 11-3-3, after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw last season in New York.
• The Great Danes converted on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, and Matulis netted the equalizer in the 60th.
• Albany finished with an 11-6 advantage in shots, as Montali and Wilson combined for five saves.
• The Terriers are 5-2-1 all-time at home with an active three-game win streak. They last posted a 3-0 victory in 2015.

UP NEXT

• BU will hit the road for the first time by visiting No. 23 New Hampshire on Sunday (Aug. 27) for a 5 p.m. start.
• The Terriers overcame a 19-1 deficit in corner kicks last season to stun the then-No. 9 Wildcats, 1-0, on the road for the program's first top 10 victory since 2009.