For the second time in as many games, the Boston University men’s soccer team found itself down 1-0 in the second half of regulation play. But this time was different.
In their 1-1 double-overtime draw with the No. 19 University of Vermont, the 6-6-2 Terriers (2-1-2 America East) netted both goals. Catching an unlucky bounce off freshman Neil Hlavaty, the ball skipped past an unsuspecting Zach Riffett to notch the only Catamount goal in the 54th minute.
“It’s something that happens,” said BU coach Neil Roberts of the own-goal. “He was on the back post for us. It was kinda muddy, and it just went off him.”
But if the Terriers have shown a turnaround in one specific quality as of late, it’s been their ability to pick their heads up and stage a comeback. And on the road against a nationally ranked team, a team now 10-4-2 (3-2-1 in the conference), isn’t a bad stage to do it on.
“When you score an own goal, it’s kind of deflating to the team,” Roberts said. “We responded very well to that.”
In fact, less than 12 minutes later, junior back Zach Kirby came through, knotting the score at 1-1 with his first goal of the season, 68:26 into the game, coming on a corner kick he chased down to knock in from about 35 yards out.
“He was actually crossing it into the mix,” Roberts said. “It just kinda screened the goalkeeper and hit the corner of the goal. There were a lot of bodies there – it was kinda surprising that it made it through so many people and nobody got a touch on it.”
In the 102nd minute, reigning America East co-Player of the Week Roland Erlichman had a chance to break the tie and get three points for the Terriers as he broke through the Vermont defense for a one-on-one with Catamount keeper Tom Critz.
“It was a good chance,” Roberts said. “It was a good combination with him and Sedrick [Chin] and he got through the defense. He went to far post and missed by about two or three inches. I think he put it right where he wanted to, it just went a little far.”
As the clock wound down to zero, the Terriers came off the field feeling just a little disappointed. But the tie marked the first time this season that BU has not lost when facing a nationally ranked opponent. It also extended the Terriers’ unbeaten streak to four games.
Riffett and Critz each made three saves on the night, while the Catamounts held a 16-10 shot advantage. Riffett now sits at 5-2-2 and is unbeaten in his last four starts.
“[Vermont is] a difficult team,” Roberts said. “They’re organized and pressure well. They’re a very good defensive team, and they don’t give up a lot of goals.”
Each team left Centennial Field with one point, with the Terriers in fourth place in the conference standings, two points behind the No. 3 Catamounts.
BU next takes on the University of New Hampshire at Nickerson Field on Saturday night in search of three more points to boost it up the conference ranks.
“Whenever you can be down in the second half and play a top-20 team on the road and be disappointed to get the tie and not the win,” Roberts said, “that’s a good sign.”
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