Madzongwe injury will sideline him for season

It is not too often a sophomore wins America East Defensive Player of the Year, but Boston University men’s soccer defender Kelvin Madzongwe accomplished that last season.

That achievement would have given him a chance to win the award three times during his collegiate career, something that has not been accomplished since Binghamton defender Graham Munro took home the award three times from 2003 through 2005.

But it looks as if that feat is out of Madzongwe’s reach this season, as the junior tore his ACL in the Terriers’ 3–1 loss to Wake Forest University on Aug. 31. BU coach Neil Roberts said the Magwegwe, Zimbabwe, native will have surgery in about a week’s time.

“He was a mainstay for us and a team leader as far as his ability as a player and he’s worked extremely hard over the summer, was in great shape and until this young team kind of found themselves — he was the guy kind of holding us together,” Roberts said.

The former America East Rookie of the Year missed two games early last season before playing in the next 16 games, scoring one goal on the season. He was named to the America East All-Conference First Team.

Madzongwe had already played all 90 minutes in each of the first two games before going down in the 13th minute of the Wake Forest game. Madzongwe’s presence had been instrumental in the defensive formation BU played in its first two games as the team used a three-man back line to shut down then-No. 11 Boston College.

However, without Madzongwe in the lineup, the Terriers have been forced to use a four-man defensive line, moving a man from the three-man front to the defense.

This has also put more pressure on the four defenders, sophomore Sanford Spivey, sophomore James Holler, freshman Jeroen Blugh and redshirt freshman Parker Powell, to step up and help sophomore goalkeeper Nick Thomson against some tough opponents. Spivey, who started all 18 games last season, has been taking over Madzongwe’s role as the vocal leader of the back line.

Also taking on the brunt of the load following the injury to Madzongwe is sophomore goalkeeper Nick Thomson, who made 10 saves in the last two games while allowing only two goals. The Cramlington, England, native has made 28 saves on the season, including 16 in the three games the Terriers have played since Madzongwe left the lineup.

“I feel bad for [Madzongwe], but he’ll bounce back and the rest of the team is picking it up really well,” Roberts said. “I’m happy with the way the guys have been kind of responding to the situation and taking advantage of their opportunities.”

At first glance, BU has struggled without Madzongwe, as its record is 0–2–2 in the past four games.

But of those four games, two of them have come against teams ranked No. 1 in the nation during the time of their matchup with BU game. The Terriers lost a close game with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Sept. 2 before dueling No. 1/3 University of Connecticut to a draw on Sunday.

With Madzongwe gone, both the defense and offense were supposed to have been weakened, giving unbeaten UConn the opportunity to throttle a weakened BU team.

However, BU closed its long road trip out strongly, holding the Huskies to a single goal and even notching a goal against preseason Big East Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake. Blake had only allowed one goal in his previous four games.

“I’m impressed at times with our team and they way we collectively defend and change tactically to be able to be competitive with anybody we’re playing,” Roberts said. “I think that’s a good sign for us, especially last night.”