With one quick shot, the Boston University men’s soccer team moved one step closer to the big time.
The Terriers (4-1-1, 0-0-0 America East) earned their fourth straight win, defeating the No. 7 ranked University of Connecticut, 1-0, last night at Nickerson Field.
Sophomore midfielder Federico Bianchi slammed in the only goal for either team off a long throw in from senior defender David Fahey at 66:58.
“I had a tough angle and I just tried to put it on net and it slipped through,” Bianchi said. “This is by far the biggest win since I’ve been here.”
BU looked nervous in the early going as Connecticut (3-2-0, 1-1-0 Big East) controlled the pace of the game. The Terriers then calmed down and played a strong defensive game throughout the rest of regulation.
BU had only a few chances in front of the net, and was unable to convert until Bianchi’s goal. Junior midfielder Andy Dorman sailed a shot over the crossbar late in the first half. Only minutes before the Bianchi goal, a Dorman pass was too far ahead of senior midfielder Tony D’Angelo, who was charging toward the right corner.
While the Terriers failed on many chances in front of the net, the defense played a solid game, and BU possessed the ball well in the second half of play.
“I think we got into a rhythm tonight, and I think we’ve come together,” said BU coach Neil Roberts. “We did a much better job possessing the ball, and I think we’re defensively a pretty good team now.”
Roberts was pleased with the team’s performance and thought they would carry a lot of confidence into the next few matches.
“It was an excellent game against an excellent team,” he said. “This will only help if we can take things we did today into the next couple of games.”
Prior to the only goal, the Terriers had many breakaway chances to score. However, after Bianchi scored in the middle of the second half, it was clear the team was playing more defensively, as Roberts rotated in fresh legs to keep up with the speedy Connecticut offense.
Senior goalie Matt Smith had an outstanding performance, leading the Terriers with nine outstanding saves, including a very close call when a BU defender passed a bad ball back to Smith.
Smith, whose saves down the stretch helped seal the game for BU, said he enjoyed having the fans backing the team.
“It was nice to get the fans out there and hear them shouting for us instead of shouting for the opposition,” he said. “A few less hecklers, and it would have been nice to have the ref on our side, too.”
Roberts said he felt the Terriers had advantage playing at home.
“As of five years ago, we wouldn’t have had these games at home,” he said.
The importance of the win could be seen tonight when the Terriers charged the field as hundreds of fans screamed in excitement.
The schedule isn’t going to get any easier for the Terriers in the upcoming weeks. Along with a tough America East schedule, BU will face two top-15 teams in the next three weeks. Their next game is on the road at No. 15 Boston College on Wednesday, Sept. 25. They then return home to face No. 13 University of San Diego.