After a hard-fought overtime loss to No. 24 Brown University in its home opener, the Boston University men’s soccer team prepares to bounce back. On Tuesday night, the Terriers will host The College of the Holy Cross at 7 p.m. at Nickerson Field.
For BU (1–4–2), this game marks the first of 11 straight games against currently unranked opponents. After six out of BU’s past seven games have been against some of the top soccer teams in the country, this change in schedule is just what the doctor ordered. The Knights (1–4) are coming off their first win of the season, which came against a winless Rhode Island University. Before their first win, the Knights played a tight game against a tough opponent in Providence College, losing 2–1, so they will likely be a confident group coming into this game.
After the first five games of the season, Holy Cross has averaged 1.2 goals per game, but has allowed an average of 2.0 goals per game. The Knights’ defensive struggles are hard to miss, but they have some offensive firepower. Three of their six goals have come from one player, talented forward Josh Cintas.
“10 [Cintas and midfielder Pat McCann] are their most talented players,” said BU coach Neil Roberts.
Cintas is a junior who has finally found his scoring touch. After missing all of his freshman year due to injury, the small, quick forward led the team in assists (five) and shots (36) in 2011. He started the season having recorded only one goal at the collegiate level, but is off to a hot start in 2012 with three goals in five games.
McCann is a senior and team captain for the second consecutive year. He is a defensive midfielder who is a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball, standing at six feet tall.
Sanders compliments McCann well at midfield with his speed. He plays a quick, offensive-minded game that has led to his two goals so far this season.
“They move the ball well,” Roberts said. “Their record is not an indication of their skill. They’ve had the lead in every game they’ve played.”
Holy Cross has developed a pattern of scoring first, but eventually falling behind and dropping the match. In games against Dartmouth College, Sacred Heart and Providence, the Knights have scored early in the first half to take a 1–0 lead, but failed to score again and lost by one or more goals. If Holy Cross can put together a full 90 minutes of the quality soccer it seems to play early in the first half, it can be a dangerous team.
BU is entering this game determined to improve. Roberts said it will be ready for the confident Knights team that Roberts has said is tough, quick and crafty.
“It’s up to us. We let some points get away,” Roberts said. “We just have to put a complete game together and deal with the situations we’re in. We’re looking forward to getting better.”
BU lost one of its premiere defenders, Jeroen Blugh, to injury in its game against Brown. This upcoming game will be the first full game without him. Although the defense remained strong after the freshman defenseman’s early departure from the last game, it will be interesting to see how the defense performs without him for a full 90 minutes.
Junior Derek McCaffrey will likely be a crucial factor, as the midfielder may replace the injured Blugh on defense.
Fortunately for BU, Holy Cross has to get the ball past dominant sophomore goalkeeper Nick Thomson if it wants to get on the scoreboard. Thompson has posted a 1.48 goals-against average and .738 save percentage through the first seven games of the season.
Holy Cross, with its struggling defense, seems like a good opponent for BU to try to find its scoring touch against.
“We’ve created a lot of offense and haven’t finished,” Roberts said. “We’re going to play our game and create chances and goals will come.”
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