For the Boston University women’s lacrosse team, patience paid huge dividends Wednesday during the team’s 13-2 flattening of Harvard University at a waterlogged Nickerson Field. If BU is to win two more home games this weekend against No. 13 Dartmouth College and America East rival Binghamton University, it will have to bring the same precise offensive execution to the field that it did two days ago.
In a steady rain on Wednesday afternoon, the Terriers (4-4, 0-0) won the game’s first three draws and methodically picked apart the Crimson defense, scoring goals on each possession and jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first four minutes. BU coach Liza Shoemaker talked about the importance of a quick Terrier start.
‘A lot of this game we knew was going to be about being on fire when we came out here,’ Shoemaker said.
Entering Wednesday’s game, Harvard had dominated the Charles River series with BU, winning the last two meetings and eight of ten all-time. Shoemaker and the Terriers knew that an aggressive yet smart attack would be necessary to take early control of the game.
‘I think this game, traditionally, is about whoever comes out with the most heart is really the team that’s going to come out on top,’ the head coach said. ‘I think that’s where [Harvard] beat us the past couple of years.
‘So the first couple of possessions were key for us to get down there and set the tempo of the game.’
With the early lead, BU kept the pressure on Harvard, dominating the time of possession in the first half. After 30 minutes of play, the Terriers totaled 21 shots on net and six goals. The Crimson, meanwhile, struggled to organize their offense, taking only seven shots and ending the first half scoreless.
The Terriers were able to control the game in the first half because of their willingness to wait on offense. Despite pressure from the Crimson, BU players continued to move the ball around the Harvard goal before making the right pass to a cutting teammate.
‘The attackers did a lot of good things out there,’ Shoemaker said. ‘I know Harvard put a good double team on every time we got the ball down at the attacking end.’
A play by sophomore midfielder Alyssa Trudel was a prime example of the Terriers’ meticulous attack. With just under eight minutes to play in the first half and BU leading 5-0, Trudel surveyed the Harvard zone from behind the net and waited for the crowd in front of the goal to disperse. With one quick move, the sophomore jutted past her defender and to the right of the goal before she flicked a pass in front of the net to a slashing teammate. Freshman midfielder Lindsay Lewis sprinted to the opening in front of the goal and was the recipient of a beautiful dish from Trudel. In one smooth motion, Lewis received the ball and fired it at the goal before the Harvard keeper had a chance to make the save. The Trudel-Lewis combination epitomized the Terriers’ successful offensive afternoon.
‘Alyssa is the type of player that will play whatever role you need her to play,’ Shoemaker said. ‘She’s somebody that can set somebody else up.
‘She does everything and anything.’
Except for the fact that the rain settled after intermission, the second stanza was more of the same for BU. The Terriers continued to be patient on offense and forced turnovers on defense en route to a 13-2 total-team victory. The same total team effort will be needed today and tomorrow when BU welcomes Dartmouth and Binghamton to the friendly confines of Nickerson Field.
BU has had its hands full with quality non-conference competition this season. Including today’s game against No. 13 Dartmouth, five of the Terriers’ nine games have been against ranked opponents. Dartmouth (4-2, 2-0 Ivy League) enters today’s contest having won two straight including a 7-6 victory over No. 12 Yale University on Mar. 29. The Big Green are lead by junior midfielder Lana Smith, who has scored 15 goals this season and tallied four or more scores in three different games. Freshman goalie Devon Willis is the reigning defensive player of the week in the Ivy League, making 17 saves in wins over Yale and Columbia University.
Tomorrow, the Terriers begin defense of their America East title when they host Binghamton (0-3, 0-0). The Bearcats have struggled this season, losing their first three games and scoring only 18 goals while surrendering 48.
Winners of two in a row, the Terriers will have to continue to practice patience to ensure a fruitful home stand.
‘We’re 4-4 now, and we’d like to end this week 3-0,’ Shoemaker said. ‘If this team shows up, I think we’ll be able to do that.’
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