Eagles Open With Win

By Sean Donahue
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Updated: August 28, 2015

NEWTON, Mass. – Freshman Trevor Davock had a debut to remember for Boston College as the Medway, Mass. native scored from just inside the box in the 68^th minute to give the Eagles a 1-0 win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats in their season opener on Friday. The win at BC’s Newton Campus Field in front of a crowd of 918 kept BC unbeaten (6-0-1) against Quinnipiac in their last seven match-ups.

The Eagles, who finished a tough 2014 campaign at 5-8-3 (1-6-1 ACC) gave plenty of Freshman starts or significant minutes in their season-opener including striker Simon Enstrom, midfielders Tommy Garcia-Morillo, Josh Forbes, Abe Bibas, the goal-scorer Davock, and defenders Derek Lyons, Emanuel Estrada.

“I thought we had some standout performances from our kids in our first game at home,” said BC head coach Ed Kelly.

While chances were hard to come by in the first half, the Eagles looked strong in the second and Davock perfectly placed a shot inside the far netting from just inside the box on the left to put BC ahead in the 68^th minute.

Boston College had the better of the early play, but was unable to truly threaten the Bobcats net in the early going. Quinnipiac would have the first chance in the 18^th when they managed to play freshman Rashawn Dally behind the defense and in on goal. With Eagles goalkeeper Cedric Saladin quick off his line, Dally attempted a shot on frame, but his effort was weakly hit and easily saved and held by Saladin.

“We stayed off them at the start, but sometimes you have to just let the game go like that so you can see how they adjust,” said Kelly. “We wanted to keep it nice and tight.”

The Eagles best first half chance came in the 32^nd minute after a poor pass by the Bobcats near midfield saw the ball end at the feet of Zeiko Lewis. Lewis ran at the defense and took on a center back before attempting his shot. Lewis’ initial shot was blocked by the defender, but he got the rebound and forced Quinnipiac ‘keeper Triston Henry into a save.

Two minutes later another Bobcats turnover forced by Eagles’ freshman Simon Enstrom led to a BC attack. This time Tommy Garcia-Morillo got to the end line and sent a pass back to Atobra Ampedu just outside the box. Ampedu attempted a shot, but his effort sailed high of the net.

After the half time break the Eagles came out on the front foot and immediately put the visiting Bobcats under pressure. Boston College created several dangerous chances, but couldn’t test Triston Henry until earning a 55^th minute free kick just outside the box. Henry Balf took the set piece and curled it on frame, but it lacked the power to beat the Bobcats’ keeper.

The home side would continue to threaten on the attack and finally got the breakthrough in the 68^th minute through Davock. The former star at the Rivers School in Weston, Mass. got the ball on the left side from Joshua Forbes and unleashed a shot from just inside the box, curling a beautiful effort inside the far post to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

“It was nice because all preseason and practices I haven’t been able to get a goal at all and to get it on the first game right when I came it was great,” said Davock whose parents, as well as a former teacher and former teammate, were in attendance for his first college match. “It’s good feeling. It’s just a big weight off my shoulder. Now that I’ve got the first one hopefully they just keep coming.”

The Eagles had another chance in the 72^nd minute when Davock played Enstrom behind the defense with a through pass. Enstrom ran in on goal under pressure and hit a shot on frame, but it lacked the power to trouble Henry.

“I thought we had some breakaways where we just didn’t move the ball quicker,” said Kelly. “Henry [Balf] did really well, but he had a couple breaks where he just [needed to] put them in earlier. One time we had five breaking away down there and he just took very long to pass it and it’s hard for them because they’re trying to stay onside and watch the line.

The Bobcats looked to respond in the 75^th minute with a shot from James Greco just outside the box, but his effort went wide of the far post.

Only an impressive effort from Triston Henry kept the deficit at one in the 84^th minute when Zeiko Lewis broke free behind the defense and ran in on goal. With just Henry between him and the net, the Quinnipiac goalie was fast off his line and met Lewis outside the box, sliding in to knock the ball away.

“He should’ve scored, but he knows that,” said Kelly. “He was mad at himself because he doesn’t score. He looked like he took his turn too quick, but he got in.”

BC continues its season with a trip to face the Boston University Terriers on Monday.

“Because they’re young the approach is simply to try to just get in the moment at each practice and each game and we’ll see,” said Kelly. “It’s really silly to have [expectations] like we’ll finish second or third. It doesn’t mean anything; it’s only wishful thinking, but if we keep playing and growing and fitness—we’ve had a few injuries—so hopefully we’re not banged up for BU.”