BC Men's Soccer Ties Merrimack in Defensive Struggle

October 3, 2019

The Boston College men’s soccer team tied Merrimack College in a scoreless, extra time game on Tuesday night in Newton.

The draw marks the first non-conference game this season in which the Eagles did not win. Previously, they were 5-0-0 in non-conference play and 0-2-1 in ACC play. With this second consecutive tie, the Eagles drop to a 5-2-2 record.

This could have been a pivotal game for the Eagles, who have now won just one of their last five games. They started off the season strong with a 4-0 record until a mid-September loss to NC State. With just one victory in their last five matches, this should have been a win to get the Eagles back on track, especially considering how well they have performed against non-conference teams.

There was not a single goal scored in the entire 110 minutes played. Both teams had opportunities to score, however, with the Eagles recording 15 shots compared to the Warriors’ 12.

The Eagles started the game by attacking the net aggressively, recording an impressive five shots on goal in the first half. Unfortunately, they would be unable to record any more shots on goal for the remainder of the match. Lucas Rezende, Merrimack’s goalkeeper, stonewalled the Eagles during the first half, but would not be tasked with recording any saves in the second half.

Merrimack would only manage two shots on goal throughout the match. The Warriors’ best opportunity was a shot that bounced off the crossbar at the very end of the first half.

Christian Garner, who has started in goal for the Eagles in the last three games, earned his second and final save of the game in the 96th minute of play, preventing a demoralizing loss. This was the only shot on either net taken in the 20 minutes of extra time.

Midfielder Amos Shapiro-Thompson was a standout on offense for the Eagles, continuing an impressive freshman season. He played all but eight minutes and ended with six total shots (three shots on goal).

Despite Shapiro-Thompson’s strong effort, BC was unable to secure a much-needed win. The Eagles will continue their homestand on Friday, taking on third-ranked Wake Forest.

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