Men’s Soccer: Terriers Look to Keep Momentum for Friday Night Tangle with UMass Lowell

By Akshai Wadhwani        August 30, 2018

BOSTON, MA  –  The Terriers have officially avoided another horrific start to the year. Now, it’s time for them to convert their forward drive into a first win of the season.

Monday’s eventful 3-3 draw with Boston College confirmed a vastly improved beginning to the 2018-19 campaign, after 2017’s disastrous 0-5 start. BU currently sits at 0-1-1, and will prepare to face UMass Lowell in their second home game of the season on Friday.

Although they left Newton with one point rather than three, the Terriers are still riding a high. With the 3-3 result, BU scored at least three goals in a nonconference road match for the first time in almost four years; saw junior Matt McDonnell record the first hat trick by a Scarlet and White player since 2008; and took points from a matchup against BC for the first time since 2012. Those milestones will undoubtedly give them confidence heading into their Friday night lights.

The River Hawks, meanwhile, have had an impressive start to the season. An opening win, 1-0, against UMass followed by a 1-1 draw with Quinnipiac puts them at 1-0-1 overall. Last season, their nationally ninth-ranked team put two past the Terriers within the first 20 minutes for a 2-0 win—just their second over BU in the all-time series, which stands at 4-2-0 in the hosts’ favor.

UMass Lowell’s points table is dominated by Zagreb natives, with Jakov Basic and Ivan Abramovic providing the pair of goals and Renato Kauzlaric listing the lone assist of the year. Defender Chase Reichenberg and goalkeeper Zach Rowell have played every single minute of the season.

Forward McDonnell spearheads BU with six points via his hat trick earlier this week, plus a team-leading ten shots. Sophomore winger Toti Knutsson follows with two assists, while junior midfielder T.J. Butzke adds an additional helper to the points table. Keepers Michael Bernardi and William Bonnelyche have split starting duties with one cap each, combining for nine saves from 26 shots faced.

Friday’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m.