Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY ANDREW HALE, SPORTS EDITOR
The St. Bonaventure University men’s soccer team opens Atlantic 10 play Saturday following a 2-2-1 start during its non-conference slate.
Bonaventure traveled to Texas as they faced Houston Christian and Incarnate Word to begin the season. The Bonnies’ lone non-conference win came against Houston Christian in its season opener. Juniors Umechi Akuazaoku and Rashid Aroza led the way for Bonaventure scoring a goal apiece while senior goalkeeper Jules Dechert held the Huskies scoreless. In the second match of the season, the Bonnies drew with Incarnate Word 1-1.
Dechert saved 11 shots in the team’s first two games, earning A-10 Defensive Player of the Week.
“We are not very used to getting weekly awards here, so it was very good news to be named as the first Defensive Player of the Week of the season,” said Dechert. “It reflects my hard work, and shows that I am working in the right direction. The team as a whole played a role in this weekly award, so it should make us want to get more.”
After opening the season in Houston and San Antonio, the Bonnies returned for their home opener against Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils narrowly edged out the Bonnies, scoring two second-half goals, winning 3-2.
The Bonnies non-conference slate continued in Vestal, New York as the team fell to Binghamton 3-1.
However, Bonaventure enters A-10 play with some momentum as the Bonnies defeated Little Three rival Niagara 3-1 in the final game of non-conference play. Junior Kenzo Brito led the way, scoring two goals against the Purple Eagles.
With non-conference play in the past, coach Kwame Oduro looked back to the Texas road trip as a way to prepare for hostile A-10 environments.
“[Incarnate Word] made it difficult for us, before the game, after the game, prior to the game, which, again, it’s going to be like that when we visit some A-10 teams,” said Oduro. “It’s not a new plan for some of these guys. We’re playing different kinds of teams that mimic the teams that we have in the Atlantic 10, so hopefully, that translates well when the A-10 games do start.”
The Bonnies saw success in the win column over the course of the first five games, and Dechert expressed confidence his team is well prepared going into conference play.
“The non-conference schedule helped us to work physically in order to be ready for the A-10s,” said Dechert. “It helped us to try to figure out the way we want to play and to reveal our weaknesses that we need to work on.”
The Bonnies, who have not made the A-10 playoffs since the 2017 season, look to get back on track in 2023.
“You win four games; you end up in the playoffs. There’s no doubt about it,” said Oduro. “Obviously, it’s easier said than done. We want to make sure that when we are home, we’re trying to get points, when we are on the road, we’re trying to get at least one point. Lose a game or two on the road, and it’s not the end of the world. But if you can gain one, or hopefully three, you just put yourself in a very good position.”
Following an 0-6-2 record in the A-10 last season, the team is approaching conference play one game at a time, according to Dechert.
“All the players on the team are trying hard at practice and in games in order to not live a season like we had last year,” said Dechert. “I have approached conference play the same way as non-conference play. I always go game by game in order to be ready for when the team needs me during every game.”
Bonaventure travels to the Bronx to take on Fordham in the opening game of A-10 play on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
“Fordham is a very good team. They’ve had some very, very good results,” said Oduro. “They are a very old team with a lot of grad students. So we look forward to going down to the Bronx and trying to get some points to start the A-10 season.”
halea22@bonaventure.edu
