Men’s Soccer Home Opener Tonight against Boston College
Terriers hope to build on last year’s success
When the men’s soccer Terriers kick off their home opener tonight against crosstown rival Boston College, it’s with the hope of duplicating—even exceeding—their successful 2014 season. It was a season that saw them earn their 12th conference regular season title (first in the Patriot League) and first undefeated conference record (6-0-3) since 1994. Unfortunately, the season ended too soon, when the Terriers fell to Bucknell 3-2 in the Patriot League tournament final.
“The team definitely has a chip on its shoulders this year,” says redshirt goalkeeper Matt Gilbert (Questrom’17). “We want to make that one last step to finally get that NCAA bid, through the Patriot League final. We’re trying to make history here. Last year was a step in that direction, but this year, we’re trying to go one step further.”
The Terriers are optimistic despite losing seven starters. “We know how good we can be,” says Neil Roberts, the reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year, now marking his 31st season as head coach. “We have a lot of good players, a lot of young players eager to get out there. We lost a couple of really good guys, but I’m still very confident in our group. I think we have the tools necessary to compete.”
Among those really good guys, none will be missed more than Dominique Badji (Questrom’15), who last season led BU to its first conference final since 2009 after racking up a team-high 20 points (8 goals, 4 assists) and was the 2014 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Now a forward for Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, Badji recorded 59 shots last season, 27 more than any other Terrier.
“His are going to be hard shoes to fill,” says back Jeroen Blugh (CAS’16). “I don’t think there’s anyone that can be Dominique Badji, but we have other experienced seniors and juniors, and we actually have some good freshmen coming in.” Blugh says he’s confident that without Badji’s leadship, other players will be encouraged to step up.
The Terriers will be relying on forwards Felix De Bona (CGS’15, CAS’17), Lucas McBride (CAS’16), and T. J. Butzke (COM’19) to fill the void. McBride and De Bona have combined for 13 goals over the past two seasons, and Butzke arrives at BU as the 2014 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. Factor in midfielders David Amirani (SAR’16), a preseason All-Conference Team honoree, and Anthony Viteri (CGS’16), who joins the squad after starting 14 games for St. John’s University last year, Roberts says, and you have a promising offense.
“We’ve got a lot of good pieces,” the coach says. “A lot of guys we can move around, see where they fit. There’s a good amount of talent on this roster. It hurts to lose someone like Badji, but I think these guys can do more than just hold their own. I’m excited, especially after last year.”
Yielding a stingy .8 goals per game last season, BU’s defense is looking for an even better encore performance. Even with losing back Kelvin Madzongwe (COM’15) to graduation, the Terriers have a number of quality defenders, including Blugh, midfielder David Asbjornsson (ENG’17), back Adam Sheikali (CAS’18), and midfielder Richie Robinson (ENG’16). “I’m confident with whoever we put back there,” Roberts says. “Defense has never been something I’ve been too worried about, especially because we have the pieces for that to be one of the best units in the country.”
Comprising 20 returnees and 15 newcomers, the 2015 Terriers have high hopes of bettering their recent success. A first-half team last season, BU outscored opponents 17-4 before the second period, with its meager 10-11 output. “We just have to figure out what we did so well in the first half, and replicate that all season,” says Gilbert. “We couldn’t be beat in the first half last year. Let’s hope we can’t be beat in both halves this year.”
The BU men’s soccer team takes on archrival Boston College tonight, Monday, August 31, at Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St., at 7 p.m. Tonight’s game is free for everyone. For other men’s soccer games, admission is free for all BU students with a sports pass, $2 for faculty and staff, and $5 for the general public. The game will be preceded by the ninth annual Terrier Tailgate, which begins at Nickerson Field at 6 p.m. The tailgate will include free food courtesy of Raising Canes, carnival games, prizes, and music.
Emmanuel Gomez can be reached at mannygo@bu.edu.
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