BOSTON, Mass. – Despite a strong second-half push, the Navy men's soccer team (2-3-4, 0-1-1 PL) could not overcome a lapse late in the first half of Saturday afternoon's 1-0 loss to Boston University (4-2-0, 1-1-0 PL) at Nickerson Field in Boston, Mass.
 
While senior goalkeeper Robert Eaton kept the Midshipmen in the game multiple times with his five-save contest, a goal by Andrea Di Blasio at 35' off a blocked shot proved to be the deciding factor in the Terriers' third-straight victory over the Mids.
 
Eaton faced some action early, catching a 12' free kick before batting away Ryan Lau's corner-kick shot at 14', finishing an intense stretch by scooping up Ethan Gill's long-range shot in the 16th minute.
 
While Navy generated some dangerous crosses and nearly found senior Andrew Schug in the box multiple times, Boston finally grabbed the lead in the 35th minute when Dylan Williams' shot was blocked by the Navy defenders, but Di Blasio picked up the loose ball and side-tapped the ball past a sprawling Eaton into the right side of the cage. Boston nearly had its second goal in a five-minute span when the ball ended up in the net at 39' but an offsides call helped keep the deficit at one.
 
Navy pushed offensively in the opening minutes, as a racing Schug was stuffed by William Clavier at the left post in the 57th minute, while Boston countered at 62' when Eaton had to dive to deny Damola Salami's low-lying shot and made another diving save a minute later on Anthony Harper. Sophomore Duncan Sullivan then tried to equalize the game at 68' off the rush, but his shot went left of the cage, while another Sullivan shot at 72' sailed high.
 
Eaton again kept the deficit to one at 76' when he stopped Di Blasio's header off a corner, and freshman Will Cawlfield's sliding shot at 77' on the counterattack forced Clavier to cover the chance. A dangerous free-kick opportunity for Sullivan at 79' went high as well, while sophomore Keane Brown's cross at 80' just missed a streaking Schug. Another Schug shot on the rush was deflected and bounced to Clavier at 84',
 
Dueling with Eaton's five saves on the other end, Clavier ended the day with a three-save shutout.
 
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue Comments
"Obviously disappointed in the result. It was an unfortunate goal to give up, however, our group played well in the second half and created some good chances. We don't have time to cry over it as we have a big match on Tuesday against a service academy rival in Air Force and then a very important Patriot League game next Saturday."
 
Match Notes
• Navy moved to 2-9-2 in the all-time series with Boston.
• Eaton has now registered four-or-more saves in four-straight contests.
• Sullivan has recorded multiple shots in seven of Navy's nine games this season.
• Boston is now 16-3-13 in its last 30 home games dating back to 2022.
 
Up Next
Navy hosts service academy rival Air Force in a 7 p.m. non-conference contest on Tuesday, Sept. 23.