It took them a while to get here, but for the members of Boston University men’s soccer team, a regular-season title is so close they can almost taste it.
After the Terriers (9-5-3, 3-1-3 America East) tied the University of New Hampshire and Binghamton University (12-5-0, 4-3-0) lost to the University of Vermont on Wednesday, the Terriers now share the top conference spot with the other BU, with just one conference game remaining.
Taking their seven-game unbeaten streak on the road Saturday afternoon, the Terriers can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win in Vermont. If BU loses, the Terriers can still earn a first-round bye if Binghamton also loses its game. But of course, BU coach Neil Roberts and company want to finish things off on their own terms.
“We are in the last game of the season,” Roberts said. “We have the chance to finish first, and the guys are happy about that. We need to go out there and end it. Things could go a number of different ways and we could end up in fifth [place]. I think . . . the guys want to keep themselves in this position and get the [first-round] bye.”
After dropping eight of their first 10 games, the Catamounts have rebounded by going 3-1-2 in the last six games. The Catamounts, having defeated both the University of Maine and Binghamton in the past week, come into tomorrow’s game with a chance to launch themselves into first place with a win and a Binghamton loss.
Bolstered by the play of leading scorers T.J. Gore and Tyler Hasman, Vermont has outscored its opponents 4-0 in the past two games, including a shutout at home against Binghamton.
“They struggled early in the season,” Roberts said. “But they are playing really well right now. They are athletic and quick up front and they like to like to go forward. They are going to come after us. They are a lot like Binghamton in that they play to score.”
The Terriers’ defensive unit, during its unbeaten streak, has shown it is more than capable of handling the Catamount attack.
“We’re defending pretty well now,” Roberts said. “They are staying at home and [senior goaltender] Hrafn Davidsson is getting sharper and sharper.”
To take pressure off of the defense, BU will have to rely on its transition game. While the transition has improved of late, the loss of junior midfielder Samuel Appiah to injury has challenged its effectiveness.
“We’re trying to stabilize the midfield,” Roberts said. “With the loss of [Appiah] we’re just trying to get the right pieces in the right place to get it back to where it was.
“For us to be successful, we need to be good with our flank play,” Roberts continued. “If we do that and move the ball quickly, and expose them defensively, we should be good. Getting the bye would be great for us.”