The BU men’s soccer team celebrated its first regular season Patriot League title in nine years on November 1, securing the top seed in the Patriot League tournament after defeating Army 2-0. Playoffs begin Tuesday, November 7. Photo by BU Athletics

Varsity Sports

Men’s Soccer Hosts Colgate in Patriot League Semifinals Tuesday

Terriers head into postseason after winning their first conference title in nine years

It’s been a season of milestones for the BU men’s soccer team. The Terriers captured their first regular season Patriot League title in nine years, notched their first 10-win season since 2015, and secured home-field advantage in the Patriot League tournament. 

But head coach Kevin Nylen and the Terriers are focused squarely on what’s ahead: a date with Colgate in the Patriot League semifinals on Tuesday, November 7. The game begins at 6 pm on Nickerson Field. 

“I’m really proud of this program, and for us to get our first regular season title. That means a lot,” Nylen says. “But we’ve got more soccer ahead of us, and that’s a good thing.”

BU (10-3-4) has dominated conference play, posting a 7-1-1 mark against Patriot League opponents. And the Terriers are heading into the postseason in top form, winning their last three matches in convincing fashion. They are undefeated at home, with a 6-0-2 record, which bodes well for their title aspirations. Nylen says that defending home has been a point of emphasis all year. 

“We’ve talked about it for a while,” he says. “Nickerson Field is our home, and we need to protect home. We need to find ways to get points at home. I think the continuity and us being confident a little more at times at home has allowed us to have results go our way, specifically at home.”

Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24) has led the team’s attack this season with eight goals. A confident striker and an adept finisher through traffic, Rosen has come up with several clutch tallies, including a powerful strike to seal a 3-1 win over Loyola Maryland on October 28 and the lone goal in a 1-0 triumph over Bucknell on October 21. But the offensive production has come from up and down the Terriers’ lineup: 11 different players have scored for BU this year, and 14 have recorded at least one point.

BU has locked it down defensively, too. Francesco Montali (COM’24), the preseason Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, has posted a stellar 0.80 goals against average. And the Terriers’ back line, helmed by captain Griffin Roach (Questrom’24), has limited chances on net. 

With 18 upperclassmen on the roster, BU is a veteran-led squad. That experience, Nylen says, has driven BU’s success. “Our guys have faced adversity at times. They have not wavered, whether it’s at home or on the road. We have a rather mature group, when putting all things together, in terms of experience, and knowing what we try to do and focus on each game.” he says. “I think the guys have worked hard to stay humble, to know what is required every day from a training perspective, for preparation leading into each game.” 

The team’s upperclassmen have been with Nylen and his staff through thick and thin. Many of them were on the 2021 team—Nylen’s first full season—when BU posted a 4-9-3 record and missed the Patriot League tournament. Last season, the Terriers went 6-5-7, but lost to Navy in penalty kicks in the conference semifinals. That’s made the team’s hard-earned success this season that much more special. 

“Our first year here was kind of hard. We didn’t get a lot of results,” says Quinn Matulis (CAS’23, SHA’24), who transferred to BU from Air Force ahead of the 2021 season. “It just goes to show how far we’ve come.” 

What makes this year’s squad different from previous teams? “Chemistry and camaraderie,” Roach says. 

“Coach Nylen has done a great job of bringing in transfers and bringing in new guys that have contributed to our team in significant measures,” he says. “The big thing for us is piecing it together, and every year we’ve increased our level of play. This year, it’s definitely shown.” 

Now, the Terriers are ready to lock in on the postseason ahead, where every member of the team is hungry to take care of unfinished business. 

“A lot is still left on the table,” Montali says. “I don’t think any of us are satisfied with [being] regular season champions. It means a lot, but the postseason is where it gets real fun.” 

The BU men’s soccer team battles Colgate in the Patriot League semifinals on Tuesday, November 7, at 6 pm, on Nickerson Field. Admission is free, and fans can stream the action on ESPN+. The championship game is Saturday, November 11, at 1 pm. If BU wins Tuesday’s semifinal, the title game will be played on Nickerson.