The BU men’s soccer team, all smiles and making a splash, after winning its first-ever Patriot League title November 10. The Terriers defeated Lafayette, 1-0, in the championship game at Nickerson Field. Photos by Jon Ratner

Varsity Sports

Men’s Soccer Wins First-Ever Patriot League Title

Goal by Eitan Rosen powers Terriers to 1-0 win over Lafayette

Moments after the BU men’s soccer team won its first-ever Patriot League title, Kevin Nylen summed up the Terriers’ magical run to the championship with one word: “love.”

“There aren’t many better feelings than winning, and it’s hard to win,” the coach said after the championship game Saturday afternoon on Nickerson Field, tears welling in his eyes. “I love what I do, and I love who I do it with.” 

The Terriers defeated Lafayette, 1-0, in the November 11 conference championship thanks to a second-half strike from Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24). The title came after the Terriers won the Patriot League regular season with a 10-3-4 record, a 7-1-1 mark in conference play. 

BU laid on offensive pressure from the outset on Saturday. The Terriers sprayed the ball out to their wings, Rosen and Andrew Rent (Questrom’24), who generated opportunities by crossing the ball towards the net. 

The team nearly scored on a few occasions in the first half, courtesy of Quinn Matulis (CAS’23, SHA’24) and Quin DeLaMater (CAS’26). But Lafayette’s back line and goalkeeper survived the pressure, and the game remained scoreless after 45 minutes. The Terriers outshot the Leopards, 4-3, in the first half.

The teams traded chances in the second half. Lafayette nearly scored 10 minutes into the frame, after a shot from a difficult angle froze BU goalkeeper Francesco Montali (COM’24), but the effort deflected off the post and out of danger.

With 25 minutes to go in regulation, Rosen rifled home the go-ahead tally. Rent controlled the ball in the middle of the field and played it to Rosen, who found himself with time and space at the top of the 18-yard box. He moved quickly to his right foot and unfurled a curling strike into the bottom-right corner of the net as the crowd erupted. Lafayette goalkeeper Griffin Huff had no chance. 

“Rent does really well to get the ball inside, and get me the ball in my spot,” Rosen said postgame. “I scored that goal a few times this year, and it’s really muscle memory. I knew that if I got shaken down a little I’d just pass it in the corner. It’s a shot that works for me.”

Lafayette poured on the pressure from there, desperate for an equalizer. But the Terrier defensive core stood strong, and Montali made key saves when called upon. The closest call came with just over seven minutes remaining, when the ball deflected in towards BU’s net and rang the crossbar before Montali corralled it and defused the effort. After a frantic final few minutes, the game-ending buzzer sounded and fans rushed onto the field to celebrate with the team. 

The Terriers held home-field advantage throughout the tournament after they won the Patriot League regular season title for the first time since joining the league in 2014. BU was undefeated at home this season, posting an 8-0-2 mark at Nickerson. A large and energetic crowd cheered on the Terriers Saturday, among them athletes from the BU women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, softball, and women’s soccer teams. 

“They were all there,” Rosen said. “Those are the people we’ve been with for four years, five years. The people who have been part of our community through the ups and downs.”

Coming into the Patriot League Tournament, BU had defeated every conference team but two: Colgate and Lafayette. The Terriers disposed of the Raiders, 2-0, in the semifinals on November 7. They had lost 2-0 to the Leopards earlier this season, but exacted their revenge when it mattered most.

“We finished it off. We ran the gamut,” Nylen said. “In true fashion, of course you’ve got to go through the team that beat you in the regular season… To finish that off, it’s a good feeling. It’s a good day.” 

Although the Terriers hadn’t clinched a Patriot League title before this year, they had earned seven conference titles when playing in the America East Conference, the most recent in 2008. 

After celebrating the title, the Terriers have turned their attention to the NCAA Tournament. They will take on Syracuse, the defending national champions, in the first round Thursday at 6 pm. If BU beats Syracuse, they will then face the University of New Hampshire.

“Every game from here on out is a final,” Nylen said. “But if I know our guys, we’ll be ready.”