The Boston University men’s soccer team looks to remain unbeaten this season at home and in America East when the Terriers host the State University of New York at Albany this Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.
The Terriers (7-3-2, 2-0-0 America East) enter tomorrow’s game with six wins and a tie this season at home and are looking to jump into second place in the conference. BU is currently just behind the University of Vermont in the standings, as the Catamounts sit at 3-0-1 on the season.
BU traveled to Long Island this week for a game against the State University of New York at Stony Brook, but turned around when the game was postponed due to rain.
BU has played very well since their disappointing 2-0 loss at the University of Rhode Island, going 3-1 and scoring nine goals in those four games. This newfound offensive spark hit a bump in the road last weekend, as the Terriers pelted West Virginia University with 16 shots on goal, but still needed a late goal by junior Karl Ruegemer to earn the 1-1 tie.
The Great Danes (7-4-1, 2-0-1 America East) mark the first conference opponent with a winning record for the Terriers this season, and are coming off a 1-1 tie at the University of New Hampshire on Sunday.
When looking at the Albany statistics, it is a defensive player that leads the Great Dane offense this season. Greg Chevalier has tallied six goals and an assist so far this season, and is tied for the team lead in points with another defender, Ashtian Holmes, with 13 points each.
The Terriers head into tomorrow’s game unsure of which Albany goalie they will be facing, as Bouna Coundol and Trevor Serraro have split the time this year, each notching more than 500 minutes of action. Both keepers have a save percentage over .730 and Albany has given up 1.33 goals per game, as opposed to the Terriers’ 12 goals allowed in 12 games played.
While BU Coach Neil Roberts feels his squad needs to improve on the offensive end, one thing that he doesn’t have to worry about is his defense and goaltender. The Terrier defense, headed up by Ruegemer and sophomore Erik Evjen, has given up only two goals in the last five games, including shutouts against the University of Maine and the State University of New York.
Senior goalie Matt Smith leads the America East in every goaltending category, as he is the only keeper allowing less than one goal per game. He has totaled an amazing five shutouts on the year, including one against the University of Connecticut, which is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation.
The game against Stony Brook has been rescheduled for Nov. 5, as the Terriers will have five games left after tomorrow’s game at Nickerson. With a few more wins, the Terriers will put themselves in a great position to claim the top seed, and the home-field advantage that comes with it. The Terriers had that advantage last season, but were upset at home by Northeastern University. BU travels to Northeastern for revenge this upcoming Wednesday.