Boston University (1-0) at #1 Vermont (1-0)
Date & Time: Sunday, Aug. 24 | 1 p.m.
Venue: Virtue Field | Burlington, Vt.
X: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMSOC
BOSTON – Looking to carry momentum from the season-opening victory at New Hampshire, the Boston University men’s soccer team will visit defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Vermont on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start time.
The Terriers (1-0) claimed their third shutout in four meetings against the Wildcats for a 1-0 victory, while the Catamounts (1-0) earned a 2-0 home win over Sacred Heart. The former America East rivals will face off for the first time since BU joined the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- BU will seek its first win against a ranked opponent since earning a 1-0 victory at then-No. 9 New Hampshire in 2022. The Terriers last defeated the No. 1 team in 2009 when they shut out St. John’s, 1-0, at Nickerson Field.
- Following the 1-0 win at UNH, the Terriers will try to win the first two road games of the season for the first time since 2015.
- exclusive to just six appearances last year due to injury, senior Alex Bonnington earned his first game winner as a Terrier at UNH since netting the first goal of a 2-0 win over Lehigh in 2023.
- One of 10 newcomers on the squad, freshman Austin Mobray earned his first assist after setting up Bonnington with a shot off the post in the 48th minute.
- Leading BU with three shot attempts, including two on goal, junior Keke Abai joined senior John Roman and senior goalkeeper Ben Alexander as the only Terriers to play all 90 minutes.
- Alexander recorded two saves for the shutout, as UNH posted a 9-5 advantage in shots along with a 7-1 lead in corners.
SCOUTING VERMONT
- Vermont went 16-2-6 last season with a 2-1 OT win over Marshall in the NCAA title game. The Catamounts posted an 8-0-4 home record after suffering home defeat to NJIT in the 2023 America East tournament opener.
- The Catamounts scored both goals on Thursday over the final 18 minutes of the game to defeat Sacred Heart, finishing with a 10-5 advantage in shots and 8-6 edge in corner kicks.
- Tallying 11 points last season on five goals and an assist, Marcell Papp joined 2023 America East Rookie of the Year Nick Lockermann in finding the back of the net against the Pioneers.
- Tabbed 2024 NCAA Tournament Defensive Most Outstanding Player, Niklas Herceg made four stops vs. SHU for the shutout after totaling six a year prior.
- Last season, Vermont averaged 3.1 more shots per game with a 136-89 advantage in corner kicks.
SERIES HISTORY
- The Terriers lead the all-time series, 25-11-9, that dates back to 1972.
- BU is 4-0-2 over the last six meetings following a 0-0 draw at Nickerson Field in 2012.
- The Terriers prevailed in the last two trips to Vermont with a 1-0 victory in 2011 and 2-1 win in 2009.
- Overall, BU is 9-4-3 on the road and last fell in regulation to the Catamounts in 1989.
LOOKING AHEAD
- BU will conclude the season-opening three-game road trip at Charleston on Friday (Aug. 29) at 7 p.m.
- The teams will face off for the first time.
- The Cougars went 5-1-2 at home last season and started off the new year with a 3-2 home loss to South Carolina.
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