Terriers Trounce Rhode Island

BU Explodes for Four in First Win of Year

September 15, 2008

BOSTON – Tom Strackhouse scored two goals in 65 seconds and the Boston University men’s soccer team defeated Rhode Island, 4-0, to earn its first victory of the season Sunday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

Junior Shaun Taylor and senior Jin Oh also scored for BU (1-3-1), while senior Hrafn Davidsson and junior Joe Cullaro combined for the shutout in goal. The win for BU was the fifth straight against the Rams and the Terriers’ third straight shutout of Rhode Island (2-2-0).

Terrier freshman Stephen Knox recorded his first collegiate point with an assist in the seventh minute when he sent a pass from the middle to Taylor on the left side, who went to the far post to score his first goal of the season. BU held the 1-0 advantage for the rest of the first half, but were not able to add another tally, while at the defensive end, the Terriers kept Rhode Island from getting off a single shot.

Strackhouse took over and put the game away early in the second half. In the 48th minute, he took a pass from sophomore Matthew Shea that left Strackhouse with only the goalie to beat. He did so and was left with an easy touch to put BU up by two. Just over a minute later, it was Strackhouse scoring again, this time taking a cross from sophomore Aaron O’Neal and putting it in to the left side.

The Rams were issued a red card in the 51st minute for a hard challenge by freshman Cody Zane, leaving the visitors down a man for the remainder of the match. The Terriers capitalized a few minutes later when senior Jon Jonsson fed Oh inside the box. Oh ripped a shot that was saved by Rhode Island junior netminder Chris Pennock, but Pennock was unable to control the ball and Oh knocked in the rebound to bring the score line to 4-0.

Davidsson made two saves over the first 67 minutes before giving way to Cullaro, who stopped the only shot that came his way. In the other net for the Rams, Pennock stopped five shots, but was pulled after giving up the fourth goal and replaced by sophomore Peyton Warwick, who made one save before junior Anthony Tavares came on for the final ten minutes.