Boston College Athletics
Men's Soccer Wins BIG EAST Championship
November 12, 2000 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - On the 10th anniversary of the last Boston College BIG EAST Championship in men's soccer, the third-seeded Eagles defeated No. 5 Seton Hall at Rutgers' Yurcak Field to win their second league tournament title. With the victory, Boston College received the BIG EAST's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Bobby Thompson, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, secured the win with his fifth tally in the 66th minute. Collecting a pass from Chris Cleary down the left wing, he brought the ball into the Eagles' offensive end of the field untouched and picked up a defender just outside the goal box. He faked out the defender and had a clear shot at the goal, tucking in a shot just past Pirate keeper Alex McDonald inside the right post.
Senior Brian Mollo opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he collected a pass from Thompson in the center of the box and lifted a shot into the upper left corner of the goal over McDonald's right shoulder. It was his first score on the season. Senior Sjur Gundersen also assisted on the goal with the throw in to Thompson.
After applying heavy pressure throughout the closing part of the first half and through most of the second half, the Pirates finally broke through the Eagle defense when Luke Serefin netted a goal to bring the Pirates within one goal in the 89th minute. Seconds later, the Pirates thought they had scored the equalizer with just seconds left on the clock, but the play was whistled offsides as the ball was headed into the net.
Senior keeper Chris Hamblin, the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, made six saves for his 11th win of the season, while the Eagles moved to 12-6-1 with the win. McDonald made one save in the loss.
Boston College will wait to hear on Monday, Nov. 13 at 3:30 p.m. who it will play in the first round of the 2000 NCAA tournament.
Seton Hall (13-7) 0 1 - 1 Boston College (12-6-1) 1 1 - 2Scoring - BC: Brian Mollo (Sjur Gundersen, Bobby Thompson) 15:08. BC: Bobby Thompson (unassisted) 65:37. SHU: Luke Serefin (unassisted) 88:12.
Shots - SHU: 12. BC: 10.
Goalkeeper saves - SHU: Alex McDonald 1. BC: Chris Hamblin 6.
Corner kicks - SHU: 5. BC: 7.
