Bonnington's Brace Propels Men's Soccer to 3-1 PL First Round Win Over Bucknell

Saturday, November 8

Boston, MA

1 PM

Boston University

10-7-0, 5-4-0

Bucknell – PL First Round

9-4-5, 4-2-3

Bucknell

Boston U.

Photo by: Matt Woolverton

Bonnington's Brace Propels Men's Soccer to 3-1 PL First Round Win Over Bucknell

November 8, 2025 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Highlights/Coach Nylen Postgame Bonnington-Coach Nylen Postgame PL Tournament Central

BOSTON – Highlighted by senior Alex Bonnington's five-point performance and classmate Sheraz Saadat's four saves, the No. 4-seeded Boston University men's soccer team eliminated No. 5 Bucknel, 3-1, in the opening round of the Patriot League tournament Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

Bonnington netted the equalizer in the 21st minute and joined senior Ethan Gill in finding the back of the net during a two-goal second half to help the Terriers improve to 10-7, as the Bison's season came to an end at 9-4-5. Thanks to its sixth 3+ goal performance of the season, BU will next travel to No. 2 seed Lehigh on Tuesday (Nov. 11) in a PL semifinal contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bison quickly jumped on the scoreboard at 1:45 when Collin Sullivan played a ball from midfield toward the top of the box where reigning PL Offensive Player of the Year Drew Roskos ripped a shot past Saadat.
One minute later, Gill sent BU's first shot wide of the left post.
During the 21st minute, senior Giuseppe Bagnato sent a long pass of his own up the field to a charging Bonnington, who ran past the backline trying to draw an offsides call and shot past Rex Alphen for the equalizer.
Trying to grab the lead over the final five minutes of the half, the Terriers earned a pair of corners and Bagnato attempted to curl a shot from 20 yards out, but Alphen made the save as the clock expired.
Five minutes into the second half, Roskos made a couple of moves in the box to get around two Terriers and tried to fire a shot at the line of the six-yard box, but Saadat moved up in anticipation to keep the game tied.
Saadat stop another Roskos shot at 52:15 and helped clear a corner kick during the 54th minute.
Bonnington took the lead for good during a counter attack in the 59th minute when he and freshman Sebastian Otero made a long run up the field to set up Bonnington's 18-yard shot inside the far post.
Saadat added another save at 64:44, and Gill netted an insurance goal at 76:29 when he pounced on Bonnington's deflected crossover for a quick strike.
When the Terriers weren't pressuring Bucknell's backline, their own kept the Bison away from taking another shot to seal the victory.

GAME NOTES

BU has reached four straight semifinals in a conference tournament, marking the second longest streak in program history after accomplishing the feat from 1989-1998.
Bonnington became the second Terrier to earn a brace this season, joining junior Andrea Di Blasio who scored twice in a 4-1 win vs. Loyola Maryland.
Bonnington's five points marked the most by a Terrier this season.
Gill set a personal best with his seventh goal of the season to break a tie with Petrica for the team lead in points at 15 total.
Otero became the eighth Terrier to dish out multiple assists this season while moving into a tie with Bonnington at eight points apiece.
Earning his eighth start of the season, Saadat improved to 6-2-0 on the season.
With their fifth straight victory in the series, the Terriers improved to 6-3-6 all-time against the Bison. They are now tied in the PL tournament at 1-1-1.
Making just their eighth appearance in a tourney as a No. 4, 5 or 6 seed, the Terriers improved to 2-2-4 all-time in the quarterfinals, last winning in the America East as a five-seed in 2006 against UAlbany (1-0, 2OT).
BU was previously 0-0-2 in the quarterfinals in the PL, failing to advance on PKs against Bucknell (2016) and Army West Point (2018).

UP NEXT

BU will next visit No. 2-seed Lehigh in the PL semifinal on Tuesday (Nov. 11) with a 7 p.m. start.
The Mountain Hawks previously defeated the Terriers, 2-0, at Nickerson Field back on Oct. 25.
The teams will meet for the first time ever in the PL tournament with the advancing team either next visiting No. 1 American or hosting No. 6 Lafayette in the title game on Saturday, Nov. 15.