After recognizing their partnership with Team IMPACT, the Boston University men's soccer team and Boston College battled to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field.
With their first scoreless matchup in the annual Battle of Comm Ave. series since 1993, both the Terriers and Eagles move to an identical 2-2-3. Senior Francesco Montali tied a personal best with seven saves for his third shutout of the season.
Senior Quinn Matulis nearly gave BU the lead in the fourth minute but his 25-yard free kick nailed the crossbar, and freshman Diego Rived had a great look in the 84th with his header off junior Aidan Holmes' corner kick flying just right of the post.
Prior to the contest, the two programs gathered for a group photo with Pierce and Reese, two young members of Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Pierce formally signed with the Terriers back in October 2021 and is a courageous eight-year-old from Quincy who was previously diagnosed with a genetic condition called retinoschisis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU earned Matulis' threatening free kick after the Eagles received a yellow card for tackling sophomore Brian Hernandez, who was making a deep run toward BC's box on senior Gianluca Arlotti's long free kick from the other side of the field.
- The Eagles earned the game's first corner in the 36th minute and forced a save from Montali.
- Rived had his first look at 41:57, but the Eagles' backline blocked the attempt to keep the game scoreless entering the locker room.
- Montali came up with his second save in the 48th minute after BC tried to score on a rebound.
- The Terriers successfully defended against three straight corner kicks in the 67th minute.
- BC blocked senior Colin Innes' shot at 70:37 and watched Rived's header go right at 83:38.
- Montali earned his last two saves at 84:19 and 85:40, respectively, to preserve the draw.
- Montali was the first Terrier to earn a shutout against the Eagles since Nick Thomson ('14) accomplished the feat in 2012 against then-No. 11 BC with five saves on the road in a 1-0 win.
- BC recorded a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks and 13-5 lead in shot attempts.
- BU earned its second tie in four meetings with BC and avoided defeat at home in the series for the first time since 1996 with eight of the last 10 losses being decided by one goal apiece.
- BU will remain home and next resume Patriot League play by hosting Lafayette on Saturday (Sept. 24) at 6 p.m.
- The two squads are currently tied, 4-4-1, in the series.
Original source can be found here.
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