Trying to come up with the perfect analogy for the Boston University men’s soccer team is easy. There are the obvious slam dunks like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or flipping the light switch on and off, and then there are the more subtle ones, like the difference between Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday being safe and out at home plate.
The team is 5-4 on the season, and in those four losses, the Terriers have scored a total of one goal. In the five wins, the team has scored 13 goals, averaging just under three per game.
The defense has been equally as inconsistent. With Hrafn Davidsson in goal for all Terrier wins, BU has given up two goals, both in one game — a 3-2 win over the University of Central Florida at Nickerson Field. In the four losses, the team has given up seven goals.
Naturally, without research, I came to the conclusion that fits the bill for all problems related to sports: It’s J.D. Drew’s fault. But there had to be something deeper to the Terriers’ inconsistency.
How does a team with all five of the top point scorers from 2006 — Peter Sigurdsson, Jin Oh, Neil Hlavaty, Dan Schultz and Samuel Appiah — returning to the field have so much trouble putting the ball in the net on a consistent basis? How does the team play so inconsistently after jumping out of the gate in 2006 with its best start in 12 years?
During the offseason, BU coach Neil Roberts rebuilt the roster, adding nine freshmen to the 28-man squad. With only two seniors on the team (co-captain Derek Puerta and defensive back Ian Maio), some of the freshmen have been forced to make immediate contributions to the team — namely, Daniel Chu. He was named America East Rookie of the Week after scoring two momentum-shifting goals earlier in the season against Fordham University at the Brown Invitational. Talk about an introduction.
Unfortunately, Chu has not made much of an impact since that game and no other freshman has stepped up to play an important role. Midfielder Aaron O’Neal — who has started three games — has shown flashes of scoring ability and is closest to being able to provide a solid effort consistently.
Eight games into the season, BU has felt the loss of 2006 America East Defender of the Year Zack Kirby and All-American goalie Zach Riffet. The duo was key to a stifling defense that gave up only 12 goals last season. About halfway through this campaign, the team has already given up nine.
There are nights when Davidsson is a brick wall in the net. Then there are those nights when I question whether Davidsson actually realizes that his role as a goalie is to actually keep the ball out of the net. He has been an enigma and in essence, a microcosm of the entire team.
It has not helped that the defense supporting him has not always protected him. In the season opener against Boston College, the Eagles were easily able to set up their offense with effective first touches that allowed them to control the tempo of the game. The next day, however, BU’s defense smothered the Northeastern University attack, constantly putting pressure on the opposing forwards and using strong midfield play.
Against BC, the Terriers looked slow and out of sync. Against Northeastern, BU appeared to be returning to its 2006 defensive prowess.
The midfield play has been arguably the most effective and consistent part of the Terrier team this season. One player that has made a huge impact on the team’s midfield is sophomore Richy Dorman. He is aggressive, physical, quick and a spark on the field. Dorman can be found all over the pitch and has brought intangible value.
Halfway through the season, nothing has been established about the Terriers. They are a mediocre 5-4, showing no signs of a long-standing run typical of a Roberts team. BU is still searching for an identity and consistency with a roster filled with explosive talent that hasn’t had the drive to bring it to the field every night.
Can anyone say “J.D. Drew?”
Sopan Deb, a sophomore in the College of Communication, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. He can be reached at soap07@bu.edu.
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