With the Boston College Eagles out of the way, the Boston University lacrosse team will turn its attention back to America East tomorrow, when they welcome the University of Vermont (5-3, 2-0 AE) to Nickerson Field.
The No. 11 Terriers (7-2, 2-0) have picked up where they left off last year against conference opponents, shelling out a combined 34 goals in their first two America East games.
Yielding just 10 goals over that same stretch, BU boasts the best point differential in the conference, a mark they’ve held for each of the last three seasons.
“We’re aggressive when we go to cage,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw. “I like having the high intensity attack and I like to put the other team on their heels right from the start. We’ve done a pretty good job of coming out and making that happen.”
One of the main reasons for the Terriers’ offensive onslaught against America East teams is junior midfielder Sarah Dalton. Dalton, who tied a career best with six goals Wednesday evening, was responsible for eight goals in the Terriers’ lopsided wins over Binghamton University and the University at Albany last weekend.
“She has great stick skills and the girls trust her with the ball,” Robertshaw said. “When she goes hard to the cage, she makes thing happen and it opens up the rest of the attack. She’s confident and the rest of the offense is confident they are going to score. It boosts the whole team.”
With six double-digit scorers and a .753 shooting percentage — good for tops in America East — the Terrier offense continues to pick up speed.
The only thing slowing them down, however, has been what Robertshaw tags as a lack of hustle in the midfield.
“We had a little change of pace in practice [yesterday] looking at what we can improve on,” Robertshaw said. “But we’re going to work on the hustle stats [today] and work on our communication. We need to be able to get that step on Vermont and doing all the little things well will give us that.”
Vermont, winners of its last two conference bouts, boasts a strong midfield attacking framework that has forced 147 turnovers this year. With nearly 40 more draw controls than their opponents, the Catamounts will force the Terriers to capitalize on each of their opportunities.
“We need to make sure we keep an eye on the girl that’s winning the draw,” Robertshaw said. “We have talked about boxing out and focusing on the little things first. The girls know they need to box out and get a step first, and then come up with good stick stills when they get the ball in their sticks.”
Redshirt sophomore Rachel Klein has continued to play well in net for the Terriers, despite a minor lapse of communication early in the first half against BC.
Allowing six goals on 10 shots, Klein and the defense flipped the script in the second half, allowing four goals over the final frame.
“I talked to Rachel after the first half [of Wednesday’s game] and she was unhappy with how she played,” Robertshaw said. “She was jumpy, but she settled down in the second half and she had a great practice [yesterday]. She was relaxed and focused on her game. Our team needs to communicate better as a whole, and Rachel let that happen [yesterday].”
Pushing toward their fourth consecutive conference title, the Terriers will have to slow Catamount attacker Kristen Millar. Millar leads all Vermont scorers with 24 goals and 10 assists.
“She’s a great 1-on-1 attacker, but she can pass the ball off too. That’s something we have to take seriously,” Robertshaw said. “We know we have to do a good job of not letting her get the shots she is used to. If we can limit them and take her out of her game, it will boost our own confidence and that’s what we have to do in the conference.”