There aren’t many players at Boston University, or across the nation for that matter, that can completely change the tempo of a game. But luckily BU’s women’s lacrosse team has one of them in sophomore Jenny Hauser.
Trailing Boston College, 8-7 at the half, Hauser led No. 11 BU to a 16-12 comeback win — quite an accomplishment, considering BU was 0-2 when trailing at the half this season and is 3-24 under coach Liza Kelly when the score favors the opponent after 30 minutes of play.
The 5-foot, 3-inch attacker scored five of her seven goals during a 6-0 BU run to start the second frame and finished the day with nine points (7-2–9), tying BU’s all-time record, set by Hauser earlier this year against UMass-Amherst.
“I think that in some ways, other people were doing a good job of cutting hard on ball, so that their defenders had to pay attention to them and it would open up some opportunities for [Hauser],” Kelly said. “Also I think her shooting was excellent today. She hit that pipe in the first half on that 8-meter, which is a great shot, and she had that goalie’s head spinning, clearly. I think when her shooting’s on, you know, she takes nine shots a game anyway, and when she’s scoring — nine for nine — it makes a huge difference.”
Scoring is something Hauser is more than used to as she already has 42 points on the season (30 goals, 12 assists) and is well on her way to shattering her freshman year marks of 54 goals and 70 points.
The Terriers were heavily pressured by the Eagles in the first half, as BC’s defense — while not dominating BU — held one of the nation’s most potent scorers to just two goals.
“I just think I wasn’t doing my job as much,” Hauser said. “I just needed to go to goal a little bit more and I felt like I had to step up in that category, but I think that everybody kinda got the momentum going and got pumped up about the little things.”
Hauser’s scoring attack came within the first 15 minutes of the second half and, in addition to putting the Terriers on the board, she recorded three ground balls and one caused turnover. In the game, BU outhustled the Eagles to hold a 26-1 advantage in ground balls and a 37-25 advantage in shots — 12 of which came from Hauser.
While Hauser has the ability to light up opposing team’s goalies, BU doesn’t necessarily need her to turn in a nine-point performance every time out.
“I hope we’re never in a situation where we need her, every single game to get seven points to win,” Kelly said. “I think that Jenny comes to play. She’s not a kid that wants to score just to score though. If we’re ripping a team up, she’s not gonna be like, ‘Gimme the ball so I can get that 10 points.’ I think she realizes that she has to step up and when we need somebody to score, she wants the ball on her stick.”
Even Hauser is unsure as to whether the record breaking 10-point game will ever come.
“I don’t know. That’s something to shoot for, but I really don’t know,” Hauser said.
One thing Hauser knows for sure is that this May, she could have the best birthday gift any player could ask for. On May 28, BU will host the national championship, and that just happens to be when Hauser turns 20. Maybe that will be the game when she finally notches her 10th point.
