Although the Boston University men’s soccer team fell to Harvard University in double overtime Tuesday night by the score of 2–1, the team gave a strong offensive showing and came out with an unmatched intensity on both offense and defense.
“I just told the guys it’s obviously not bouncing for us,” said BU coach Neil Roberts. “We’ve got a lot of injuries, but I couldn’t have been happier with the way we played. I’m gutted for the result they got, it was unjust, but that’s the game, you have to finish.”
The Terrier offense again had a strong night offensively as they outshot Harvard 27–8 and had more offensive opportunities with an advantage in time of possession as well as an unprecedented 16–1 advantage in corner kicks.
Sophomore forward Dominique Badji had the Terriers’ only goal on a strong shot from about 25 yards out. The shot was nicely placed in the top corner of the Harvard goal, just out of the reach of goalkeeper Evan Mendez. Additionally, Badji lead the team in shots on goal with five.
“It was a great goal,” Roberts said, referring to Badji’s goal in the 70th minute. “He is getting there. There is a lot more in Badji that he can give us but we see it in glimpses. Our goal for him is to see those glimpses become more consistent.”
Badji had a strong match. Not only did he take shots from outside the box, he was also ever-present in the Harvard box, looking to head crosses into the net and get BU the win.
Roberts also said that he gave praise to the passion and play of the trio of junior midfielders — Evin Nadaner, Vicente Colmenares and Derek McCaffery — as well as sophomore forward Parker Powell. Roberts, after the University of Maryland-Baltimore County loss, hoped the midfielders would play tighter and control the game in the future. They did just that against Harvard.
It was a slow first half that saw zero goals, buy action picked up in the second half. After a Crimson goal early, BU began taking shots on goal, controlling the game and noticeably began outplaying Harvard.
Even after Badji’s goal, BU still had many more chances, most notably in the 73rd minute and again in the 89th minute, but they could not score. The Terriers and Crimson were tied 1–1 after regulation and entered overtime.
BU continued its dominance in overtime, playing with intensity and purpose. The first overtime period ended without a goal, even though BU still held a heavy advantage in shots and opportunities.
As the time ticked down it seemed the game would end in a tie until Harvard got its first offensive opportunity in what seemed like an eternity. The Crimson outnumbered the Terriers in transition and forward Zack Wolfenzon, on his first shot of the game, scored the game-winning goal.
As the Harvard stormed the field to congratulate, the BU players hunched over, exhausted and in a state of disbelief — it was a game they were poised to win.
“We played extremely well,” Roberts said. “I asked the kids to come out with passion and commitment no matter what the situation, no matter what our record was and they did that. I couldn’t have been prouder of the way they prepared for the game and the way they presented themselves during the game — we just didn’t get the goal.
“Like I told them, it’s something we have to deal with. They are devastated, but I’m proud of their effort and I expect them to come out on Saturday with the same passion, the same commitment and I think they will.”
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