Nov. 22, 2007

BOSTON - The Boston University men's soccer team heads out to Amherst, Mass., Friday to take on UMass in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at noon. Should the Terriers advance, they will face Boston College in the second round of the tournament on Nov. 28 in Newton, Mass.

The Terriers (9-6-4) faced the Minutemen on Sept. 29, dropping a 1-0 decision. UMass (13-7-1), winner of last weekend's Atlantic 10 Championship, has made a habit of winning close games this season. Of the team's 13 wins this season, 10 have been by only one goal. Sophomore Bryan Hogan leads UMass with five goals and 12 points, with sophomore Mark DeSantis just a step behind with four goals and 11 points. Freshman Ben Arikian sets the team mark with four assists. Junior Zack Simmons has spent all of the team's minutes in goal, compiling an impressive 0.74 goals against average with nine shutouts. His .855 save percentage ranks him ninth in the country.

Boston University dropped out of the America East tournament in the first round on Nov. 3 after falling, 4-2, in penalty kicks to New Hampshire following a scoreless draw. Vermont won the conference bid by emerging victorious from the America East championship, but the Terriers earned an at-large bid, due largely to the team's strength of schedule. Boston University faced five teams ranked in the RPI top 20 this season, including a 1-0 win over Brown on Oct. 2 that gave the team its only loss of the season.

BU has appeared in 11 NCAA tournaments, advancing past the first round six times. Between 1993-1997, the side made five consecutive visits to the tournament, including wins in the first round in each of the first two seasons. The last time the Terriers earned a bid was in 2004, when the team lost to St. John's, 3-1, in the second round after defeating Dartmouth, 4-3, in the first.

Boston College has a bye through the first round and will host the second-round game on Nov. 28.