BOSTON - Sophomore Alex Bonnington opened the scoring with his first collegiate goal to help the Boston University men's soccer team earn a 2-1 victory over UMass Lowell in front of over 2,200 fans at the 16th annual Terrier Tailgate on Sunday evening at Nickerson Field.

Remaining perfect at home with their second multi-goal performance, the Terriers improve to 3-1-0, while the River Hawks (1-1-1) suffered their first loss of the year.

Bonnington converted at the right post off a nifty cross from senior Eitan Rosen in the 39th minute that was set up by senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali's long blast from the other side of the field. After giving up an own goal in the 41st minute, UML cut the deficit in half by heading in a corner kick at 49:25 but was unable to net the equalizer.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers controlled possession of the ball for much of the first half with junior Daniel Kim setting the tone early on a low shot that was just wide of the left post.
• Minutes after Montali punched away Liam Ireland's shot attempt, Kim would go wide again in the 15th minute.
• Rent joined graduate student Colin Innes in flicking crosses over the bar in the middle of the first half.
• UML tried to counter with a pair of corners, but BU was able to keep the game scoreless.
• Bonnington broke the deadlock with help from Rosen and Montali at 38:53, and UML gifted a second score at 40:27 by lifting a back pass too high over the keeper, Adam Henry, who was near the top of the box.
• The momentum changed in the second half with the River Hawks applying pressure throughout the final 45 minutes, starting with Matthias Stingl's header in the 50th minute.
• Henry made saves against Rent (62:52) and Innes (76:20), as the Terriers went the final 13 minutes without a shot attempt.
• The Terriers' backline blocked a pair of shots down the stretch and forced two more to go well wide to seal the victory.

GAME NOTES

• Bonnington became the fourth Terrier this season to find the back of the net, while Montali and Rosen extended the total of men with an assist to four.
• Montali is the first BU keeper to earn an assist since Matt Gilbert ('15) accomplished the feat in 2015. GIlbert totaled three as a Terrier.
• BU finished with a 12-10 advantage in shot attempts, while the River Hawks owned a 5-3 lead in corners.
• The Terriers opened 2-0-0 at home for the first time since 2016 and last started a season with three victories through the first four games in 2015. 
• BU improved to 5-4-0 against the River Hawks, snapping a three-game losing streak with the last win occurring in 2015 at home.
• The program earned its first win at Terrier Tailgate after posting a 0-8-1 record over the last nine appearances that included multiple heartbreaks. 

UP NEXT

• BU will visit Merrimack on Wednesday (Sept. 6) for a 7 p.m. start.
• The Terriers last season earned a 1-0 home victory following a 0-0 draw in North Andover in 2021.