For the No. 15/16 Boston University men’s soccer team, the tough times should be over.
The Terriers (6-2-2) start their America East conference schedule Saturday against Stony Brook University (1-7-2) at Nickerson Field at 7p.m. BU was picked unanimously in the America East preseason coaches’ poll to retake the conference title at the end of the regular season.
Judging by how they have played in their non-conference schedule, the Terriers look like they have the potential to do just that. BU stampeded through its first 10 games, finishing strong with a four-game undefeated streak. Just a few minor hiccups marred what otherwise was a very well played first half of the Terriers’ season.
BU coach Neil Roberts has gambled on scheduling the toughest opponents for his team to play in return for the possibility of postseason successes.
According to him, all of the teams that the Terriers have played in their non-conference schedule have been to the NCAA Tournament at least three times within the last four years.
St. John’s University, who the Terriers defeated in a huge 1-0 upset on Sept. 13, was a Final Four participant last season.
‘These are the types of teams that we purposely put in our schedule to get us ready for where we want to go as a group,’ Roberts said.
That place they want to go is the NCAA, and holding the conference crown again this season would give the Terriers another clear shot at a tournament bid and a national title.
‘Last year, we were close,’ Roberts said. ‘This year, it will be challenging but the guys are looking forward to it. They’re accepting that challenge.’
The Terriers should not be in for much of a challenge against Stony Brook. The Seawolves are riding a seven-game winless streak into Saturday’s matchup.
A big reason for that streak is the fact that Stony Brook has allowed 21 goals in its first 10 games. The Seawolves do not have a lot of experience in net as they are starting a pair of freshman goalkeepers, Anthony Rogic and Stefan Manz. The pair has a combined 2.00 goals against average.
On the other side of the field, the Terriers have one of the best defenses in the country led by their experienced starter at goalkeeper, senior Hrafn Davidsson.
Davidsson has allowed just seven goals so far this season with a 0.67 GAA. Before this weekend, the senior was 13th in the country with a 0.43 GAA. However, the Terriers allowed Brown University to score three goals, which sent Davidsson’s average plummeting.
Even then, Davidsson still ranks as one of the nation’s best goalkeepers, and should be solid in net against the Seawolves.
Davidsson and the rest of the Terriers’ defense will have to be on guard against a trio of top scorers for Stony Brook.
Freshmen Berian Gobeil, sophomore Wilber Bonilla and freshman Leonardo Fernandes are tied at the top of the Seawolves’ scoring list with three goals apiece.
Stony Brook’s offense will need to keep up with a Terrier squad that has scored nine goals in its last four games. BU has been supplemented lately with solid performances from players who have been quiet up until this point in the season.
Senior Samuel Appiah has scored once and had two assists in the last two games for the Terriers. The Ghana native has started every game for the Terriers since the beginning his sophomore season.
Sophomore Colin Henry tallied his first career goal against Brown on Saturday. This season, Henry has been a steady force in the backfield and has made several key saves. One of those saves was a block that persevered the Terriers upset over St. John’s in the final minutes of that game.
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