The Boston University men’s soccer team drew scoreless in their game against Colgate University on Saturday.
The Terriers (6-2-2, 3-0-1 Patriot League) looked to continue their Patriot League dominance against a Colgate team (3-6-1, 1-2-1 PL) that had lost three straight games.
Colgate head coach Erik Ronning chose to give junior goalkeeper Oliver Townend the starting nod, which marked only his second appearance this season.
Led by their top goal scorer and captain, senior forward Aidan Davock, Colgate started off the game with a high press which paid dividends in the 16th minute for the game’s first chance. Senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali was way off his line when he played a bad pass right into Colgate junior midfielder Alejandro Coury, who attempted a chip with an open net but hit the crossbar.
BU eventually settled in the game and started to control the ball more. Their first opportunity came in the 24th minute as senior midfielder Andrew Rent dribbled through the defense and laid off senior forward and top point-getter Eitan Rosen, who quickly cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the post.
Despite losing the ball in their half a few times throughout the game, BU’s back line stood strong and completely locked down Davock and the Raiders in the second half.
“Our guys are good defenders,” said head coach Kevin Nylen. “[Davock] is a good guy, whether he played central or out wide, but I also thought that us having the ball limits his ability to have the ball.”
Whereas the first half was even for the most part, BU began the second half by asking questions early and often. The Terriers had some critical chances in a very physical first 15 minutes after the restart, which saw four Colgate players pick up yellow cards.
In the 52nd minute, Rent was in on goal after a cheeky ball over the top, and despite his first touch letting him down, he forced a lunging double save from Townend.
BU continued to stay aggressive. They got as close to the breakthrough goal as possible in the 71st minute. Graduate student midfielder Colin Innes, who was coming off an excellent three-point performance in the team’s win against Holy Cross, found himself in some space just outside of the box. After faking a shot with his weaker left foot, he took on a beautiful curling shot that beat the keeper but was denied by the crossbar.
Even though the Terriers had forced the Raiders into a defensive shape most of the second half and had countless chances, BU was not able to extend their eight-game home field win streak dating back to last year.
“I’ll put my hand up [as] responsible in terms of the ball wasn’t really going in for me,” Rosen said. “For the whole team, the ball wasn’t bouncing, and it didn’t go our way … so it’s really disappointing.”
Next up for the Terriers is a clash against the defending Patriot League champions Navy at home on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
“Now we get a little bit of recovery,” coach Nylen said. “We don’t have a midweek [game], so we can have a proper build into a game. Come Monday, this game is out of our minds, and we now have to prep for the team who won it all last year.”
