July 9, 2012

Coming in at No. 11 in this year’s Terrier Twelve is the Boston University men’s soccer team capturing its third America East regular season title in four years and head coach Neil Roberts surpassing the 300-win milestone. The season had several other highlights, including the team knocking off a ranked Providence squad and claiming three conference end-of-the-year awards.

The Terriers earned their 11th regular season title with a youthful roster featuring 14 freshmen and just four seniors, and the league rewarded the players for their efforts. Recipient of the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award, sophomore back Kelvin Madzongwe was named the 2011 Defender of the Year, while forward Dominique Badji claimed the program’s fourth Rookie of the Year award in the past five seasons. In total, BU had a league-high nine all-conference honorees with four members of the 22nd-best recruiting class according to College Soccer News being placed on the America East All-Rookie squad.

Leading the Terriers to a 9-9 overall record and 5-2 mark in conference play, Neil Roberts and his assistants were tabbed the America East Coaching Staff of the Year for the fifth time since 2001 and seventh time overall. With the 2-1 victory at Massachusetts on Sept. 18, he became the 34th-ever coach with at least 10 years at the NCAA Division I level to reach the 300-win milestone and just the 11th to have earned his first 300 victories at one program. During his tenure at BU dating back to 1985, he has averaged 11.4 wins per year and has 13 NCAA berths along with just one losing season on his resume. 

BU opened the year with a 2-0 victory over Holy Cross but the mostly inexperienced squad dropped the next four games by a combined four goals to three Big East squads, including then-No. 1 Connecticut, and another ranked non-conference team. After splitting the next two contests, the Terriers reeled off three consecutive wins.

Facing then-No. 22 Providence, BU's defense held the Friars to only one shot on goal, as the Terriers controlled the ball for much of the contest. Senior Stephen Knox scored the game winner in the 88th minute with assistance from freshman Taylor Washington and sophomore Anthony Ciccone. The shutout was one of six on the season for freshman keeper Nick Thomson, as he and the defense allowed more than one goal on just three occasions in 18 games.

The Terriers suffered heartbreak in the semifinals of the conference tournament by falling to Hartford, 1-0, despite holding a 14-6 advantage in shot attempts. Though the season ended early, the future is bright for the upcoming season, as BU only lost seven of the 17 goals scored and five of the 17 assists. More importantly, they will see the return of Michael Bustamante, a three-time All-Conference First Team honoree who redshirted the 2011 season due to injury. He currently ranks 11th all-time at BU with 23 assists.

The Terrier Twelve

No. 12 - Men's Crew Concludes Postseason Run on Grand Note