BOSTON, Mass. – Harvard men's soccer (1-4-1, 0-0-0 Ivy) fell to Boston University (3-2-3, 2-0-0 Patriot), 2-1, on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field in the cross-town rivalry match.
Gil de Souza scored with one second remaining in regulation, while goalkeeper
Jason Broome made a season-high eight saves.
How it Happened
- Boston University generated the first scoring opportunities of the match before taking a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Following a sequence that included a shot off the crossbar, Andrea Di Blasio found the back of the net for the Terriers.
- Harvard responded with its first shot in the 19th minute when Adam Poliakov sent an attempt wide.
- De Souza registered two shots over a three-minute stretch before the half-hour mark as the Crimson continued searching for an equalizer. Yuta Hata added another Harvard attempt in the 42nd minute as the Crimson kept searching for an answer.
- Boston University doubled its advantage in the 44th minute when Anthony Harper scored just before the halftime whistle.
- Xavier Tanyi produced another opportunity for the Crimson less than one minute later, but Harvard entered halftime still trailing 2-0.
- The Crimson opened the second half with a pair of shots in the 51st minute. Hata generated the first opportunity before Dylan Tellado placed an attempt on goal that was stopped by Boston University goalkeeper, Ben Alexander.
- Broome made four saves over the next 22 minutes to keep Harvard within two goals.
- Harvard earned consecutive corner kicks in the 68th and 69th minutes. Poliakov later placed a shot on goal in the 73rd, but Alexander made the save to stump the Crimson offense.
- Tanyi came within inches of cutting into the deficit in the 81st minute, striking the crossbar with a header attempt off a cross from Kiko Elliott.
- De Souza broke through with one second remaining, scoring his second goal of the season to produce the 2-1 final.
Harvard Highlights
- De Souza scored his second goal of the season, tying Dylan Tellado for the team lead.
- De Souza led the Crimson with five shots, matching his season high.
- Broome made a season-high eight saves, including six during the second half.
- It was the most saves for a Harvard goalkeeper since the 2024 season (Lucian Wood - 9 vs. Princeton).
- Tanyi recorded two shots and struck the crossbar in the 81st minute.
- Hata and Poliakov also finished with two shots apiece.
- Elliott made his first collegiate appearance and played 25 minutes.
Next Up
The Crimson will open Ivy League play at Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 26. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 PM and will air on ESPN+.
