With two games remaining in its season and the NCAA tournament out of reach, the Boston University men’s soccer team looks to end its season on a high note, starting with a matchup against the Binghamton University Wednesday at Nickerson Field at 7 p.m.
The Bearcats (6–8–0, 2–3–0 America East) are coming into this game with hopes that they can rely on the America East conference tournament to get them into the NCAA tournament.
They have posted a 1.29 goals-per-game average and a 1.50 goals-against-per-game average in the fall 2012 season.
Binghamton’s offense has not been as good as it has the potential to be, considering they have arguably the best offensive weapon in America East.
The Bearcat offense goes as junior forward Jake Keegan goes. Keegan is ranked second in the conference in both shots (49) and points (21). He is tied atop the conference in goals (nine) and leading in goals per game (0.64). Scoring is not the only aspect of his game, as his three assists put him tied for eighth best in the conference.
“He’s going to get free, and he’s got good pace,” said BU coach Neil Roberts about Keegan. “We have to deny the balls that go to him over the top.”
However, Binghamton’s goals per game average is barely higher than BU’s (5–7–4, 2–1–2 America East), which coach Roberts has said all season does not score enough goals.
The Terriers come into this game with a 1.25 goals-per-game average and a 1.38 goals-allowed-per-game average.
BU just defeated a University at Albany team that was looking for a conference win to improve its ranking going into the America East tournament. The win was decisive, as the Terriers took down the Great Danes 2–0.
It was sophomore goalkeeper Nick Thomson’s fourth shutout of the season. He is tied for third in the America East in shutouts.
“As a group, when we play aggressive and put pressure on teams, we can defend and play as well as anybody,” Roberts said. “Showing passion and commitment to midfield is what we’re going to have to do these last two games. “
Leading the offense going into the final two games is sophomore forward Parker Powell. He leads the team and is tied for seventh in America East with five goals. However, unlike Binghamton, BU is not a team that relies on one player for its scoring.
Redshirt freshman Mac McGuire is right behind Powell with four goals of his own.
Sophomore forward Dominique Badji has also chipped in on the offensive side of the ball with three goals on the season, although his conference-leading 63 shots show that he could have even more.
“Getting quality shots on target was a problem for [Badji] at the beginning of the year because he was coming off shoulder surgery and he wasn’t as fit as he needed to be,” Roberts said. “But now he’s playing himself into shape and we’re getting him the ball in proper position. He just has to capitalize on it.”
Since the Terriers have just about been eliminated from NCAA tournament contention due to their regular season play and ineligibility for the America East tournament, Roberts said he wants to see that his young players are improving.
“We’re playing to improve and to play well and to win games. That’s the main goal right now,” Roberts said. “The last three or four games we played well, so we’re going to continue to do that.”
Badji is a Terrier to keep an eye on in these last two games, as coach Roberts said he expects big things out of America East’s leading shot-taker.
“He’s got the potential to be 10–15 goal-scorer.,” Roberts said. “He wants to be a goal-scorer, and he has always been a goal-scorer.”
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