The Boston University men’s soccer team continued Patriot League play at Nickerson Field against Lafayette College, playing to a 0-0 stalemate in a game plagued by injuries for the Terriers.
BU (3-6-3, 2-1-1 Patriot League) played the Leopards (4-4-3, 0-2-2 Patriot League) in a game in which the team outshot Lafayette 18-6, but were unable to find the breakthrough.
The Terriers started the match without their top offensive threats in the lineup, leaving much of the attacking duties to freshman forward John Siracuse, sophomore defender George Abunaw and junior midfielder Mana Chavali, who combined for eight shots on the night.
BU head coach Neil Roberts said the team utilized different starters out of necessity.
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Roberts said. “If guys can’t play — they’re not fit to go — then you got to make up something. You just keep trying to plug the holes. I thought the guys under the circumstances did a great job.”
The Terriers threatened early in the match: in the fifth minute, Chavali fired a cross into the box toward the head of senior midfielder Adam Wright, but was denied by a jumping save by Leopard goalkeeper Alex Sutton.
The ensuing corner from the Terriers was also sent right into the hands of Sutton.
In the 23rd minute, Wright fell to the pitch injured after being fouled and was replaced by senior defender Colin Chiakpo.
The game had only been Wright’s third since returning from an injury that kept him out of play for the entirety of the 2017 season and the first half of this season.
The Terriers were able to earn two corners in the 23rd minute and applied strong pressure, but the attack was held off by the Leopard defense after a shot from BU defender David Riccio was blocked by the Lafayette defense seconds later.
The Terriers came out firing in the second half when in the 46th minute sophomore midfielder Toti Knutsson received a pass in the Leopard penalty box and unloaded a rocket that was palmed over the bar by Sutton.
Another Terrier was injured in the 54th minute when senior defender Josh Barkoff was fouled in mid-air and fell to the pitch clutching his back. As Barkoff was walking off the field, about to be replaced, he decided to stay in the game.
One of Lafayette’s best offensive chances came in the 78th minute when a corner kick was taken by the Leopards.
The corner was cleared out of the box to Leopard midfielder Ryan Goncalves who fired a shot from the top of the penalty box, but the shot went wide of the net.
Still scoreless into the 82nd minute, Siracuse found the ball in the box and attempted a shot, while spinning around, which was deflected out of bounds for a corner.
Off that corner, Siracuse recovered the ball outside the box and was fouled for a free kick, but the ensuing free kick was crossed into Sutton’s hands.
In the 90th minute, the Terriers sent a cross in the box to an unmarked Siracuse, but his header went completely off the mark, keeping the game scoreless.
Despite being outshot 17-5 in regulation, Lafayette was able to keep BU out of the net and force overtime.
In the 96th minute, Barkoff fell to the turf again after a Lafayette corner was sent in the Terrier penalty box into a group of players. The ball was cleared, but Barkoff was left on the ground.
Unfortunately, this injury seemed more serious as Barkoff left the field slowly after getting on his feet.
Barkoff has previously needed to leave the game due to injury in a 1-2 loss against Lehigh University.
Speaking on the injuries, Roberts said that they disrupt the game flow and game-related strategies.
“It just disrupts everything,” Roberts said. “John [Siracuse is] a young kid, he’s giving us his best, he’s playing too many minutes for where he is … it’s tough.”
With four minutes left in the second overtime, Lafayette sophomore forward Martin Ssessanga received his first red card and was sent off for simulation after falling down following light contact in the box.
All told, Sutton was forced to make six saves, compared to senior goalkeeper Mike Bernardi’s two.
BU has six days off until their next game against conference opponent Loyola University Maryland. Roberts said this break will allow the team to rest.
“[It’s] much needed,” Roberts said. “We’d like to have gotten three points out of it, we’d have been sitting in a better spot, at least we got our point.”
