Senior Anders Hoyem scored in the 56th minute to break a 1-1 tie as fourth-seeded Northeastern upset top-seeded Boston University 2-1 at Nickerson Field to advance to the America East Championship game for the first time since 1996. Northeastern, 13-7-0, plays at Towson Saturday, November 17 at 12 noon in the America East Championship game. The third-seeded Tigers, 14-4-1, won 2-1 at Hartford in the other America East semifinal game.
Senior Petter Starnas started the game-winning play when he dribbled down the left side and centered a ball into the box. Hoyem re-directed a low shot past a diving Zak Thompson and into the lower right corner at 55:48 for his sixth goal of the season.
Boston University had its best chance to tie it in the 90th minute when rookie Federico Bianchi’s header bounced of the left post with 55 seconds left and Northeastern was able to clear the ball to midfield.
Northeastern scored first when rookie Antha Kirkopoulos curled a free kick from a yard outside the box into the upper left corner by the reach of Thompson at 26:53. It was the fifth goal of the season for Kirkopoulos.
The Terriers tied it, 1-1, when senior Joachim Kaland scored his school-record 19th goal of the season. Kaland collected a pass from Andrew Dorman with his back to the net, turned and sent a low shot inside the left post by Allan Lewis at 32:11.
The Huskies, who ended the Terriers’ nine-game unbeaten streak, had advanced to the America East semifinals with a 5-0 win over fifth-seeded Hofstra on Tuesday.
Lewis made two saves for the Huskies, who enjoyed a 16-8 edge in shots. Thompson made three saves for the Terriers, 13-5-1.
Junior Randy Tolson scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:06 left in regulation, as Towson advanced to the America East Men’s Soccer Championship game with a 2-1 win over Hartford at Al-Marzook Field.
America East Rookie of the Year Alon Lubezky had given the second-seeded Hawks, 12-6-2, a 1-0 lead with his conference-leading 21st goal of the season in the 18th minute. Lubezky took a pass from Easton Wilson on the left side and beat Tiger goalkeeper Chris Hurley, who had five saves, to the far post.
Tolson evened the score in the 26th minute when he chipped a shot from 25 yards over the head of Hartford goalkeeper Chris Doyle, who made one save.
The game appeared to be heading to overtime before Tolson scored his second of the game and sixth of the season when he blasted a shot from 18 yards into the upper left corner at 88:56. It was Tolson’s third goal in the America East Championship after scoring three in 17 games in the regular season. Tolson had the Tigers’ second goal in a 2-0 win over New Hampshire in an America East Championship First Round game Tuesday.
Hartford had one last rush, when Wilson blasted a shot from 25 yards but Hurley made the save as time expired.
1 2 Final
Northeastern (13-7-0) 1 1 -- 2
Boston U. (13-5-1) 1 0 -- 1
Scoring
NU-Antha Kirkopoulos (unassisted) 26:53
BU-Joachim Kaland (Andrew Dorman) 32:11
NU-Anders Hoyem (Petter Starnas) 55:48
Shots: Northeastern 16, Boston U. 8
Saves: Northeastern (Allan Lewis, 2); Boston U. (Zak Thompson, 3)
Corners Kicks: Northeastern 4, Boston U. 1
1 2 Final
Towson (14-4-1) 1 1 -- 2
Hartford (12-6-2) 1 0 -- 1
Scoring
UH-Alon Lubezky (Easton Wilson) 17:59
TU-Randy Tolson (unassisted) 25:30
TU-Tolson (unassisted) 88:56
Shots: Towson 14, Hartford 13
Saves: Towson (Chris Hurley, 5); Hartford (Chris Doyle, 1)
Corners Kicks: Towson 5, Hartford 5
America East Championship
November 7, 2001
First Round
at No. 3 Towson 2, No. 6 New Hampshire 0
at No. 4 Northeastern 5, No. 5 Hofstra 0
November 10, 2001
Semifinals
Towson 2, at No. 2 Hartford 1
Northeastern 2, at No. 1 Boston University 1
November 17, 2001
Championship Game
Northeastern at Towson, 12 noon