Box Score  | Season Stats

BROOKLINE, Mass. – Junior Dante Marini's goal was the difference as the Northeastern men's soccer team (14-2-4) defeated Boston College (8-6-5) in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday night at Parsons Field. With the victory, the Huskies' first-ever against the Eagles, NU broke the program record for most wins in a season, which was originally set in 2001.

The Huskies now advance to the second round of the national tournament, and will square off with Connecticut on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Marini's goal came in the 14th minute of play on a throw in from Nikko Lara. Don Anding was also credited with an assist. Senior goalkeeper Oliver Blum tied a career-high with nine saves as the Huskies tied the program record for most shutouts in a season.

Boston College outshot NU 17-10 for the match, including a 13-7 mark in the second half. NU generated two corner opportunities to the Eagles' one.

Despite an even statistical first half, it was the Huskies who carried the play through the first 45 minutes. Boston College held a 4-3 edge in shots, Blum made three saves in the opening frame.

The Eagles earned an early free kick from nearly 30 yards out, and Kyle Bekker's shot was recovered by Blum to his left.

NU struck in the 14th minute as Marini buried his first goal of the season. Off a Lara front flip throw in from the right side, Anding redirected the ball to the left of the cage. That's where Marini was waiting to knock in his first goal in 21 matches.

Northeastern thought it went up by two in the 27th minute off another Lara throw in. Anding once again headed the ball towards the left of the cage, but Marini was whistled for offsides just as he went to net his second of the night.

The start of the second half saw back and forth action between the squads, with both keepers being tested early. Andre Ciliotta took the ball to the top of the box before being clipped, but the official let the players carry on as Anding sent a low shot into Luthy's stomach.

At the other end, Blum stood tall as Derrick Boateng fired a shot from the left side that the Husky keeper easily controlled.

The Eagles put heavy pressure 11 minutes into the second half as Nick Corliss' shot in the box was blocked before Colin Murphy sent a laser just over the crossbar from 30 yards out.

Northeastern dodged a bullet in the 62nd minute as B.C. chipped the ball over the NU back line, where Boateng sent a soft shot just over the cross bar. The Huskies would respond less than a minute later as Simon Cox collected a loose ball and sent a turnaround shot on goal that was saved by Luthy.

NU continued to pressure the ball as Marini sifted through the Eagle defense before dishing to Anding. Anding took a quick touch before sending a shot on goal that was blocked by the defense. Seconds later, Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave tried the thread a shot into the top left corner, but Luthy just got a glove on it to knock it out of bounds for a NU corner.

Blum came up big in the 81st minute as Stefan Carter got open and sent a shot on goal from point blank range, but Blum was there to aggressively knock the ball away and secure the Husky win.

Game Notes: Northeastern is now 2-11-1 all-time against the Eagles, and 2-1 in the NCAA tournament …  The win extends Northeastern's home winning streak at Parsons Field to 16 games (15-0-1); NU hasn't lost at home since Nov. 6, 2010 … Anding's assist moved him to 62 career points, three shy of tying him for fourth on the NU record list … Marini's first half goal extended his point streak to three matches (one goal, two assists).

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