WASHINGTON - Two goals from Mustapha Sowe lifted the American University men's soccer team its most significant win of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking down BU 2-1 to clinch a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The Eagles are now 5-1 in PL play, and they hold sole possession of first place with just three matches remaining. 

Notable

• Sowe's brace gives him four goals on the season to lead the team. The freshman Finn O'Brien picked up his third assist on the goal, while Chris Sullivan delivered the secondary assist. The sophomore has two helpers on the year. 
• Javi Gonzalez notched his first career assist on Sowe's second goal, and Reyes Parra delivered the secondary assist for his first of the season. 
• Matthew Tibbetts made six saves in a strong showing for the senior keeper, bringing his total to 45 on the year.
• The Eagles took a season-high 12 shots with seven on target, marking their most aggressive attacking game of the season. 
• AU remains undefeated at home, posting a 5-0-1 record at Reeves Field. 

How it Happened

• Neither team created any danger in the attacking third through the first 15 minutes, with both squads taking two shots each that didn't challenge either keeper. Sowe's tally came in the 19^th minute. 
• The goal was the result of terrific buildup play, starting with a quality ball from Ian Webb-Johnson to midfield. Sullivan and O'Brien connected beautifully up the right flank, with Sullivan hitting O'Brien in stride to give him a clean look at the box. 
• O'Brien's service fell to Sowe after BU's John Roman failed to clear the ball, and Sowe finished on an open net with goalkeeper Sheraz Saadat out of a position. 
• The Terriers began to spend more time in AU's half after conceding, but only made the Eagles bend and not break. Their best chance came with just five minutes remaining, when Sebastian Otero was denied by Tibbetts at the near post from inside the box. The speedy midfielder beat two defenders, but AU's keeper remained composed to make a confident stop. 
• BU came out on the front foot in the second half, leveling the match seven minutes in. Charlie Tuckerman looped a ball into the box that found Ethan Gill on a run towards goal, and he placed his header down and past the charging Tibbetts. With plenty of game left, the score was tied 1-1. 
• The equalizer was short-lived, as AU had an excellent response three minutes after conceding. 
• Reyes Parra tapped a pass from Webb-Johnson to Gonzalez, who quickly got the ball up ahead to Sowe. The striker took a touch a sliced a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, beating Saadat from a difficult angle to put AU back in front. 
• The Eagles buckled down defensively the rest of the way. They faced six more shots, blocking three of them and Tibbetts made two more saves. AU almost added an exclamation point with 24 seconds remaining, but Saadat denied a shot from Colin O'Brien on a breakaway. 
• The Terriers put a free kick into the box on the final play of the match, and Tibbetts rose to it to secure the ball and the win for American. 

Up Next

• The Eagles are on the road next weekend, taking a trip to Lewisburg, Pa. to face Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.

Keep up With Us

• For the latest on American University men's soccer and to receive in-game updates, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).