What is it like to be homeless?
Just ask the Boston University women’s lacrosse team (5-2, 1-0 America East) who will play their fourth consecutive “home” game away from home this Saturday against the University of Vermont.
“[Playing and practicing away from home] takes its toll,” said BU coach Sue Murphy. “We just try to keep a positive attitude. This is the strongest group I could imagine coaching right now.”
Because of ongoing renovations to Nickerson Field, the Terriers have been forced to travel to three different home-away-from-home fields to compete. But, other than a 9-8 triple-overtime loss to No. 11 Dartmouth College at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BU has responded well.
The Terriers won last year’s game against the Catamounts, 18-0. Murphy said her team cannot take tomorrow’s game lightly, however.
“We can’t go out there and take the game lightly or we’ll be disappointed,” Murphy said. “We’ve been practicing really hard, but it’s much needed.
“We want to continue to get people off the bench and have them play outstanding. They know that’s what I expect of them.”
The Terriers began America East competition by dismantling Drexel University, 12-1, at Boston College’s Alumni Field last Friday. BU outshot Drexel, 54-7, and junior goalkeeper Brooke Barrett was forced to make only four saves in 50 minutes of play.
Sophomore attacker Caroline Kelleher led in the scoring department with three goals in the first 17 minutes of play.
Senior attacker Chrissy Lombard also kept her streak alive, scoring twice.
The Terriers also beat Vanderbilt University, 15-7, in a non-conference battle at Harvard University’s Jordan Field. BU outshot Vanderbilt, 41-14.
Junior midfielder Kristin Abruzzese made her comeback felt, scoring three goals after sitting out the previous four games due to injury.
Freshman attacker Polly Purcell scored four goals, which included two of the Terriers’ six free-position scores. Purcell, who owns a .345 shooting percentage, scored three of her four goals in the second half.
Purcell was also named America East Rookie of the Week last week. She had one goal and two assists against Dartmouth and two goals and one assist against Drexel before her four-goal tear against Vanderbilt. Her 10 points led the Terriers for the week. After seven games, Purcell is second on the team in scoring with 18 points on 10 goals and eight assists.
“I was totally thrilled about that,” Murphy said. “She’s a very dynamic 1-on-1 player. I really had to ask her to be more of a scorer, and it has been a shift for her.”
BU hopes to play just as well tomorrow against Vermont, another home game that is scheduled to be played at Boston College’s Alumni Field.
Vermont is 1-2 this season, their only win coming in a 13-12 triple-overtime win against Central Connecticut State University.
The Terriers will focus on shutting down Courtney LaMere, who was the America East Player of the Week last week. She had seven goals and one assist in the victory.
The Terriers beat Vermont last year en route to an undefeated conference season.
“These girls are tough,” Murphy said. “Nobody is going to get in our way — nobody, nothing.”
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