After recognizing its four seniors, the Boston University men's soccer team rolled past New Hampshire, 3-0, on Wednesday night to grab sole possession of first place in the America East standings. Freshman Dominique Badji scored the game winner and assisted on the second score to help the Terriers (9-7-0, 5-1-0 AE) earn their fourth straight conference victory.
Freshman goalie Nick Thomson stopped all four shot attempts in the second half to prevent any chance of a UNH rally and to earn his sixth shutout of the season, while also lowering his goals against average to 0.73.
Now leading the Terriers in points with 13, Badji broke the scoreless deadlock in the 33rd minute with help from senior Peter Mehlert. Receiving the ball with his back toward the net, Badji moved around a defender at the top of the box and quickly sent it toward UNH goalkeeper Travis Worra, who was unable to handle the shot for the first score.
The Terriers entered the locker room at the half with a 11-0 edge in shot attempts and continued to apply pressure early in the second half. Named America East Player of the Game, Badji during a counter attack played the ball up the middle of the field to senior Ben Berube, who flew through two defenders and fired toward the right post just three minutes into the second half to grab a 2-0 advantage.
Senior captain Stephen Knox gave the BU offense its season-high third goal of the game at 80:59 off an assist from freshman Cameron Souri to seal the win.
Worra had two saves for the Wildcats (6-8-2, 1-3-2 AE), while UNH's America East Player of the Game Ugochukwu Uche had a team-high four shots.
The Terriers finished with a 21-10 advantage in shot attempts and 5-2 edge in corners to earn its largest margin of victory since winning last year's final regular season game at home against Albany, 4-0.
Unable to play due to injury, 2010 America East Defender of the Year Colin Henry was the fourth BU senior honored in the pregame festivities.
With UMBC (4-2 AE) dropping a 3-0 decision earlier in the night to Stony Brook (4-1-1 AE), BU now controls its own destiny for the America East tournament's top seed with the regular season finale taking place at Binghamton on Saturday (Oct. 29).
The Terriers though can finish as low as third depending on the outcome of the games this weekend. First whistle is set for 7 p.m.