VS Boston College

After a tough outing at Princeton, the team prepared both physically and mentally for the Tuesday test at Boston College. We relish every chance to prove we can compete with the best and an ACC opponent in nothing short of just that. We realized we had another chance to improve as a unit and went into the game with a focused mindset, ready for anything BC threw at us.

The day started with a pregame meal at the Ratty, then a short trip on the bus to Boston. The bus ride was quiet, as everyone on the team readied themselves for a fight like Ali before Frazier. Because Boston College’s field is being renovated, the game was set to be played at a neutral site, namely Babson College. As the bus rolled into Babson, the boys were ready to go.

On a warm, sunny afternoon with a slight breeze, there could not have been better conditions for an afternoon of hard-fought soccer. There wasn’t much of a crowd, other than the loyal traveling contingent of parents who chirp louder than a jaybird on a summer day. It was clear the energy was going to have to come from within. The first half begun with fast-paced countering and strong defending with Brown having a small upper hand. The back line had played a huge amount of minutes in a short time, but looked as resilient as ever. With impressive tackles flying from Tim Whalen and Alex Markes, the team hoped to finish that ever-elusive first half goal. Though we had chances, we did not put any into the back of the net. The half ended in a 0-0 tie, but Brown looked the more likely side with a few lovely pieces of work and a team hungry for a victory.

The second half whistle sounded and the teams were back at it. With strong performances from numerous players, the team looked more and more likely to score. Louis Zingas was absolutely flying down the flank, trying to find that magisterial touch necessary to score his first college goal. And that he did. In the 81^st minute, a header from Quinn English found Zingas’ feet and he notched the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 Brown lead. Unfortunately, 41 seconds later BC found a hole in the defense to equalize, drawing the game to a 1-1 tie. The team fought for the next 28 minutes, through overtime, to secure the tie. In the end, it was a good result on the road against a top opponent.

The game as a whole was a definitive positive note for Brown Men’s Soccer. With 19 players making an appearance, it was clear that the result was that of the team’s. A few brilliant saves from keeper Mitch Kupstas made him look like a young Tim Howard, and kept us in it, while continual pressure allowed us to score the goal. Once again, Brown Men’s Soccer was engaged in a fight, and once again we rose to the task. We are back in action this Saturday with a home game against Harvard at 7 pm. Please tune in to watch online, or come to the game. All support is appreciated, and we plan to get a big win on Stevenson.

- Josh Butler