The Boston University lacrosse team will attempt to come back from two straight losses to open its season when it plays its home opener against Yale University Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Nickerson Field.
The Terriers (0-2) will have to stop the momentum of a Bulldog team (1-0) that is coming off a 17-13 win over the College of the Holy Cross.
“It’s not easy starting the season with a couple losses,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw. “In the beginning it’s always a little shaky, and we have some things to work out.”
In its last game, the Terriers lost to No. 19 Harvard University, 11-9, despite hat tricks from junior attack Danielle Etrasco and freshman attack Mallory Collins. Despite an attempted Terrier comeback with three late goals to come within one of Harvard with five minutes remaining, the Crimson bounced back and netted one more goal to seal their win.
The loss marked BU’s worst start to a season since 1998, when BU began the season 0-2 before taking down Boston College in its third game.
In two games, the Terriers have been outshot 54-47 and have trailed their opponents in ground balls and turnovers by margins of 22-30 and 28-22, respectively. BU has also had some trouble with clears, accumulating a 65.4 clearing percentage to its opponents’ 84.2 percent.
The team has, however, tallied two more saves with 17 to its opponents’ 15.
This season, the Terriers are averaging 23.5 shots, 11 ground balls and 13 draw controls per game. Comparatively, the Bulldogs had 22 shots, 17 ground balls and 17 draw controls in their one game so far this season.
“I’d like us to be more consistent,” Robertshaw said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the shooting [in the past two games].”
The Terriers are currently shooting at 42.6 percent, and while their opponents have only shot at 44.4 percent, the Bulldogs will come into Nickerson Field shooting at 60 percent. Yale is led by senior Caroline Crow, junior Devon Rhodes and sophomore Ashley McCormick, each of whom scored four goals in Yale’s season opener.
As far as becoming more consistent, Robertshaw will “look for older players to step up.”
Etrasco, who has scored eight goals and tallied two assists, leads the Terriers in scoring.
Also stepping up so far this season is Collins, who is second on the team with five goals. Collins was recently named the America East Rookie of the Week for her performance to start the season.
The Terriers will look for assist help from each other more in this upcoming game, as Robertshaw would like the team “to be a bit more team oriented on our attacking end.”
“Unfortunately we are on different pages at times,” Robertshaw said.
Out of the Terriers’ 20 goals on the season, only nine have been assisted. The current assist leader is sophomore attack Elizabeth Morse with three. Etrasco and senior attack Catie Tilton immediately follow with two assists apiece.
Ultimately in today’s game Robertshaw said she is looking for the team to “learn from the games [it’s] had” and become more consistent and efficient in its play, especially offensively.
Robertshaw said, “Our finishing abilities have to improve.”
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