The Boston University men’s soccer team fell at the hands of Santa Clara University Sunday night, with a final score of 2-1.
“It’s a tough feeling, but we have to say to [the team] we have to move on,” Terrier head coach Kevin Nylen said.
Coming into this game, the Broncos (2-2-0) were hungry for a rebound after a 4-0 defeat to Fordham. On the other hand, the Terriers (0-1-4) were looking to earn their first win of the season after their first four games ended in ties.
The first opportunity from either side came less than a minute into action, with Santa Clara’s junior midfielder Pierce Dyal driving for a shot outside the box. BU’s junior goalkeeper, a transfer from South Carolina, Ben Alexander made his only save of the first 45 minutes, diving down and pushing the ball against the outside post.
Approximately twenty minutes in, sophomore midfielder Jason Zacarias dribbled past two Bronco defenders and played a through ball to senior midfielder Daniel Kim. Kim tapped the ball to graduate forward Aidan Bone, who scored BU’s first and only goal of the game.
The second half started with a similar theme to the first with Santa Clara having their fair share of possession. The home team, however, remained efficient and aggressive.
Most notably, sophomore forward Keke Abai found himself with the ball, and sent a pass to senior forward Andrew Rent, who had only the keeper to beat, but his shot was turned away.
“I thought we looked to create a little more tonight, which was good,” Nylen said. “I think that’s a product of being a little more patient on the ball.”
In the second frame, the Broncos looked to make a tactical change, and they built up some offensive rhythm for the first time. Santa Clara junior forward Baronyi Kengeye stopped Alexander from making a goal-line clearance, and graduate midfielder Florian Deletioglu made the goal to tie it up in the 69th minute.
Minutes later, Broncos senior defender Yoni Aidlberg clipped a precise pass to junior forward Tyler Tipton, who scored Santa Clara’s second goal off a header in the top left.
The Terriers could not muster up any equalizing opportunities, and so a quick one-two punch by the Broncos broke the Terriers’ streak of defending Nickerson Field, which has lasted since 2022.
Looking ahead, BU is hosting Army at home on Saturday as conference play begins, which will be a crucial game as the Terriers begin their quest to defend their PL title.
“Everybody in the conference is going to want to beat us,” Nylen said. “We won the regular season, the conference championship, so that’s no secret … This week is a big week for us to regroup and get prepared.”
