Without its best defender for the rest of the season, the burden has fallen upon Boston University men’s soccer goalkeeper Nick Thomson to keep the opposition from scoring.
Thomson started the season slowly, allowing six goals in the first three games of the season. In that stretch, the Cramlington, England, native did shut out then-No. 11 Boston College, but allowed three goals apiece to then-No. 13 St. John’s University and then-No. 16 Wake Forest University.
Madzongwe injured himself in the Wake Forest game, leaving the Terrier defense shorthanded to the Demon Deacons’ attack. However, in the three games following that, including matchups with then-No. 1 North Carolina and then-No. 1/3 University of Connecticut, Thomson has only allowed four total goals, making 15 saves in the process.
“His role hasn’t changed,” said BU coach Neil Roberts. “He has got the same role of being a goalkeeper. He may be a little bit busier without Kelvin, but that is about it. He had been playing extremely well before Kelvin got hurt and after.”
Thomson has started all six games for the Terriers this season, recording a 1.55 goals-against average and a .737 save percentage. In 17 starts for BU last season, Thomson held opponents to only 16 goals, which was good for a 0.95 goals-against average and a .768 save percentage.
Those stats were good enough to help him get named to the America East All-Rookie Team last season, something he is looking to build on this season.
“He has definitely matured as a goalkeeper from last year as a freshman, and he obviously had a lot of playing time as a freshman, but he is playing extremely well,” Roberts said. “We played against one of the best goalies in the country last year in Connecticut, and Nick matched him head-to-head with saves and ability and everything else.”
Midfielders making a difference
The Terriers top two point scorers are midfielders to this point in the season, as juniors Derek McCaffrey and Anthony Ciccone have four and three points, respectively.
Roberts said that Ciccone stood out as a midfielder who has made a big difference for the team offensively, citing the 19-year-old’s versatility on the attack.
“He is playing left side, right side, in the center and every game Anthony has been very very dangerous,” Roberts said. “He is really causing some problems for defenders on some good teams. So that has been good to see.”
Roberts also discussed the impact of senior midfielder Michael Bustamante, who returned to the team this season after missing all of last year due to injury.
So far this season, Bustamante is goalless with a single assist. However, Roberts said he has been pleased with the impact he has made on the midfield as a whole.
“Obviously Michael is an attacking player that is going to help us,” Roberts said. “He is finding himself the last couple games, he was very active in the North Carolina game. He hit the crossbar in the Connecticut game, he made some good penetrating runs, which is good.”
Soon to be making his return to the starting lineup is sophomore midfielder Cameron Souri, who missed all of the preseason due to an injury. Souri missed the first game of the season against St. John’s, but has been easing himself back into the lineup ever since.
After playing 87 minutes in the 1–1 tie to UConn on Sunday, it appears Souri is prepared to return to the lineup.
“I think it really started in the North Carolina game that he started to get some serious minutes coming back from his injury,” Roberts said. “So I think now he is back to 100 percent so his role will probably change over time.”
Another injury
Freshman forward Carlos Ruiz suffered an injury in the 1–1 draw with Providence on Friday, sidelining him for the game against UConn.
Ruiz, a Boston native, started the first five games of the season for the Terriers. The freshman notched two shots over the 301 minutes he played during that span.
Roberts said he is not sure how long Ruiz will be out, but he is hoping he will be back at practice by next Tuesday.
Extra Soccer
The Terriers played back-to-back overtime games on Friday and Sunday against Big East opponents Providence and UConn.
Both games ended in ties, which meant the Terriers played 40 extra minutes of soccer over the past weekend — almost an extra half of a game. This ended a six-game road trip in which the Terriers went 1–3–2.
“[The overtime games] took a lot out of us,” Roberts said. “Especially at Providence, which was hot. It was our first overtime game so that was hot and it took a lot out. Connecticut was mentally draining and physically draining. They are a very athletic team and are a very good team, but we get a couple days off and we don’t play until Thursday so we should be fine.”
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