The No. 18 Boston University lacrosse team prepares for one of the biggest rivalries in the America East as it takes on No. 17 University of New Hampshire today at 4 p.m. on Nickerson Field. The matchup could prove to be a preview for the America East Championship later this spring.
After falling below .500 (5-6, 1-0) for the first time this season in a 17-11 loss to Syracuse University on Saturday, BU coach Liz Robertshaw said she remains hopeful for the rest of the season.
“We have had a tough lineup of games this season,” Robertshaw said. “The other games are in the past. We just have to focus on in-conference and UNH.”
With the loss to Syracuse, BU dropped its third consecutive home game for the first time since 2003, and its ranking sank accordingly.
“We need to prove ourselves a little bit more on the field in order to earn the rankings that we get,” Robertshaw said. “In the end of the season, the rankings don’t matter. It matters how you do in postseason play.”
“I think the games we’re playing right now are preparing us for a tough conference stretch, and if we do our jobs well, we have a good shot to make the postseason.”
Robertshaw is looking forward to underclassmen stepping up against UNH (7-3, 1-0) on the attacking end, especially in terms of their consistency.
“We need to play a full 60 minutes,” Robertshaw said.
The Wildcats are coming off three straight wins, including a 13-9 victory over Yale University and a conference-opening 16-8 win over the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
Ideally the entire team will come ready to play in this intense rivalry. BU has come out on top the past 11 consecutive games, including the past two conference championships. They lead the overall record against the Wildcats 19-11.
“This is the kind of game that you wake up and you’re prepared to go out and play,” Robertshaw said.
The competition is intensified by a sibling rivalry between the two teams. Senior co-captain McKinley Curro will be playing against her younger sister, UNH sophomore JoJo. Both sisters have been strong assets for their respective teams. JoJo scored a career-high six goals against UMBC and has contributed at least one point to each game this season. Older sister McKinley has consistently supported the Terriers, highlighted by last game’s hat trick. She has scored at least two goals in each of her last eight games.
On the other end of the field, the Wildcats have some stars of their own. Sophomore midfielder Kate Keagins and freshman Jenny Simpson were both honored by the AE on April 5. Keagins received Defensive Player of the Week, while Simpson received the Rookie of the Week award for the second consecutive week.
Robertshaw said that in order to face players of that caliber, the defense needs to stop leading scorers and make stops on transitions. She said the attack will ideally respond with another big showing from Traci Landy, who matched a career-high six goals against Syracuse
If each of the Terriers shows up ready for action, it looks like today’s showdown could be a critical turnaround for this powerful team.
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