Men's Soccer Falls 1-0 to UCF In Season Opener

Thursday, August 20

Orlando, FL

7 PM

Boston University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

UCF

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Boston U.	0	0	0
UCF	0	1	1

Men's Soccer Falls 1-0 to UCF In Season Opener

August 20, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Boston University men's soccer team (0-1-0) fell to UCF, the reigning Sun Belt Champions, in 1-0 fashion on Thursday evening at the UCF Soccer Complex.

The Knights showed offensive dominance in the first half, holding the Terriers to just one shot. Senior Ben Alexander made four saves in the first 45 minutes to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.

Despite BU's heavy defensive presence, UCF took a lead it wouldn't surrender in the 56^th minute. BU had six shots compared to UCF's 17, with five shots coming in the second half for the Terriers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCF struck first just eight minutes into the game with a shot at the bottom middle of the net, but Alexander made his first save of the season to keep the game scoreless.
In the 14^th minute, junior Ben Bagshaw fired off BU's first and only shot of the half, which was blocked by the Knights.
At the 24' mark, a yellow card was assessed to junior Pharis Petrica.
Alexander made his second save of the game at the 29' mark, punching away a shot aimed for the high center of the net.
Freshman Jacob Kobane was given a yellow card in the 35^th minute.
Just moments later, Alexander made his third save of the night, preventing UCF's Hugo Vogel from scoring off a free kick with less than 10 minutes left in the first half.
Alexander made his fourth save at the 39' mark, preventing UCF from putting a goal on the board with minutes left in the first.
The Knights opened the second half with their sixth corner of the evening, but the header went wide to give Alexander a goal kick.
Two minutes later, at the 49' mark, sophomore Sebastian Otero took BU's second shot of the game off a free kick, going high and wide.
UCF's Alex Partera had a cross punched away by Alexander before Takahiro Fujita shot the ball, slotting it in the bottom right pocket of the net in the 56^th minute to put the Knights on the board, 1-0. Fujita was assessed a yellow card moments after the goal.
In the 60^th minute, junior Louis Crofts took BU's third shot of the night, but it went wide. The Terriers found themselves with another scoring opportunity at the 71' mark when sophomore Mateo Turletti took a free kick, but his cross was cleared in the box by the Knights.
At the 72' mark, UCF was assessed a yellow card. Minutes later, the Terriers attempted to get a rally going with a blocked shot by junior Dylan Williams followed by a corner. Freshman Guillem Vila Ametller gained possession off the corner kick, but his shot was blocked. Freshman Ryan Ghajar then attempted to equalize the score with a shot that barely went wide.
In the 82^nd minute, sophomore Hayes Benzan was given a yellow card.
BU had its final scoring opportunity in the 84^th minute when it took its second corner of the game, but the cross was cleared in the box by UCF.

STATS

BU had three yellow cards to UCF's two.
The Knights outshot the Terriers 17-6 overall.
UCF and BU each had 11 fouls.
BU had two corner kicks to UCF's 10.

GAME NOTES

Alexander's four saves mark the most he has ever made in a season opener, surpassing the two saves in his first career season-opening appearance last year against New Hampshire.
Kobane, Vila Ametller, Chinelo Robinson, Kaelen Kunar, Jonah Greenblatt and Ryan Ghajar made their collegiate debuts. Kobane, Vila Ametller and Greenblatt each played 45 minutes. Additionally, Kobane made his first career start.

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