The Boston University men’s soccer team extended its winning streak to three games with an impressive 1-0 win against Northeastern University on Tuesday. The Terriers look to carry this momentum against Providence College Friday, as they hope to finish off what has been an unbeaten homestand with an exclamation point.
“We have to recover,” said BU coach Neil Roberts after Tuesday’s win. “The Tuesday-Friday games are quick, and we know Providence hasn’t been playing this week, so they’ll be fresher.”
Providence (4-0-2) remains the only unbeaten team in the Big East, as it began the season in sizzling fashion with three straight wins. However, it has since cooled off, with two draws and one win. Coincidentally, one of Providence’s ties came against Northeastern (2-2-2) in a 0-0 draw.
This tie against Northeastern for the Friars was the first scoreless match they have had since 2010, when they faced Brown University. Not only was it the Friars’ first shutout of the season, but it was also sole goalkeeper Keasel Broome’s third career clean sheet. The Friars are an attack-minded team, putting an emphasis on scoring, which sometimes leaves their defense vulnerable.
Roberts said he knows how to prepare his squad for this pivotal game.
“When the pressure was put on last game, we just couldn’t handle it, and we have to fix that,” Roberts said. “We have to realize that high pressure is coming, not panic and maintain the same game plan.”
Roberts has the personnel to back him up, as senior midfielder Anthony Ciccone has been doing his best Diego Valeri impression. He is tied for first in the Patriot League with four assists in the last three games. Freshman forward Felix De Bona is holding his own, as he is not only tied for seventh in the Patriot League with Ciccone in points and points per game, but he is also tied for third in game-winning goals with two.
The Terriers come into the matchup tied for second in goals allowed in the Patriot League with only four thus far. In the backfield, reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week freshman midfielder David Asbjornsson has been a wall, never giving up on a play and always putting his physical game on display.
The Terriers are also first in the Patriot League for saves with a 26 in five contests. This is a credit to the fine work of BU’s goalies, especially redshirt freshman Matt Gilbert who plays with the poise of a senior. He is third in the league in goals against average (0.79) and saves per game (4.25), second in save percentage (.850), and tied for fourth in shutouts (two).
The Friars will arrive at Nickerson Field with their own solid roster, starting with three players who received honors from the Big East this week: redshirt senior Wilder Arboleda, senior Anthony Baumann and goalkeeper Broome. The Friars also boast a strong freshman of their own in Julian Gressel, who won Big East Rookie of the Week.
The Friars have four Ocean State Soccer Classic All-Tournament players: defender Brandon Adler, freshman Dominik Machado, foward Markus Naglestad and midfielder Phil Towler, who also won Ocean State Soccer Classic Co-Most Outstanding Player.
The last time Providence and BU played was in 2012, drawing 1-1 in a game that went to double overtime. The Terriers lead the all-time series 11-3-3.
Roberts said that the key to a victory against Providence lies in sustaining possession, unlike the more battle-like style of play BU had against Northeastern.
“We’ll have to do a better job maintaining the game,” Roberts said. “It’s nice to battle and win, but we want to control and to win.”
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