September 3, 2006

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Senior Neil Hlavaty converted on a direct free kick from outside the top of the box in the 47th minute for the only goal in Boston University's 1-0 win over New Jersey Institute of Technology Sunday afternoon at Lubetkin Field.

The non-conference win lifted the Terriers to 3-0-1 in the young season, while NJIT's record is even at 1-1.

Both teams defended well and there weren't many wasted shots, as the visitors outshot the Highlanders, 6-4. BU goalkeeper Zach Riffett made 3 saves en route to the shutout and Josh Osit made 4 saves for NJIT.

The Highlanders got what would be their best chance when Erik Magnusson was dragged down by the Terrier defense in the penalty area, as he attempted to finish a breakaway opportunity with 39:11 left in the first half.

Jo Rene Valentin's subsequent penalty kick beat Riffett, but the ball nicked the left goal post and spun back into play without crossing the goal line.

The visitors got their best chance of the first half about halfway through, when Samuel Appiah fired a waist-high shot from 25 yards out, but Osit, who had a clear view, handled the shot comfortably.

Boston University was whistled for 23 fouls, to 15 for NJIT, but it was a Highlander foul that set up the game's only goal little more than a minute into the second half. Awarded a direct free kick after the NJIT foul, Hlavaty quickly restarted play, firing a shot that cleared the top of the Highlander wall and sunk inside the left post at 46:07.

It nearly became 2-0 a few minutes later, but Osit made the save of the game, diving to stop a hard shot along the ground off the foot of BU's Jarryd Goldberg.

NJIT's only shot of the second half was a quality try by a tightly guarded Magnusson in the closing 10 minutes. Magnusson, who controlled the ball about 12 yards from the goal inside the box, got off a powerful shot, but a well-positioned Riffett caught the rising shot to preserve the shutout.

Highlander coach Pedro Lopes saw the result as a matter of cashing in limited opportunities. "BU is a good, well-coached team, with veterans in the back, so we knew we had to make the most of any opportunity we got," said Lopes. "We didn't do that when we missed the penalty kick.

"It was a physical game, but we had some unnecessary fouls leading to set plays and one of them was the free kick where they scored the goal."

Although disappointed by the loss, Lopes saw the game as a learning experience for his team. "We're still finding ourselves," said the coach who started 10 players in either their first or second year with the team, while substituting four newcomers and a second-year man. "They (Boston University) are one of the better teams we will face and a team like that doesn't make many mistakes and they can make you pay for your mistakes."

The Highlanders will face another stiff challenge in their next match, a home game against 2005 Northeast Conference regular season champion Monmouth on Wednesday at 7 pm.