BOX SCORE
BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston University Terriers scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 decision from the University of Hartford men's soccer team in America East conference play at Nickerson Field on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks fall to 2-6 overall (1-1 AE) while the Terriers continue to rank on top of the conference standings with a mark of 7-3-1 overall with a perfect record of 2-0 in the league.
For the fourth-straight game this season, Boston University junior Ben Berube netted the game-deciding goal, this time in the 33rd minute to lead the Terriers past Hartford, 2-0. Ben Havey, a senior, knocked-in the insurance tally just minutes later to secure the win for the home team. The Hawks have yet to record a win away from Al-Marzook Field and fall to 0-5 on the road.
Berube, the Terriers' Man of the Match, found the back of the net at 32:23 after connecting with a long ball from rookie Derek McCaffrey and outplaying Hartford keeper Luke Citriniti one-on-one in front of the Hawks' zone. The Terriers doubled their lead at 36:27 as sophomore Ade Akinsanya played a ball to Ryan Shea who rifled a shot to the right post. Havey tracked down the rebound and sinked his squad's second goal past Citriniti to take the 2-0 advantage.
Hartford held an 8-6 advantage in shot attempts at the end of the first 45 and concluded the match slightly ahead at 14-13. Patrick Boucher and Andrew Liapis, a pair of juniors, piloted the Hawks' attack with two and four shots, respectively. The classmates each registered a pair of shots on goal. Boucher was deemed Hartford's Man of the Match as one of his attempts almost cut the Terriers' lead in half just in the 40th minute however his ball was booted out of the box by Boston University's tenacious defense.
Juniors Citriniti and Matt McElroy split time for the Hawks between the posts. Citriniti allowed both Boston University first half goals while McElroy stepped in to stop eachl of the Terriers' shots on target in the final stanza. Brandon Briggs, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, posted four saves en route to the clean slate, his fourth of the season.
“Sometimes soccer can be an unjust team sport,” commented head coach Dan Gaspar following the game. “Hartford played Boston University, an elite team in the America East, this afternoon and we had every intention of coming home with at least one point. It's now on to Binghamton, the next challenge.”
Hartford continues conference play at Binghamton on Wednesday, October 13. First kick between the Hawks and Bearcats is slated for 7:00 p.m.
