With just over a minute remaining in the first half of its game against Binghamton University, it appeared as though the Boston University lacrosse team was without direction, looking for answers.
After taking an early 5-1 lead in its America East Conference opener, the Terriers (4-4, 1-0 AE) had just as quickly squandered their fortunes by giving up three unanswered goals to the Bearcats (2-8, 0-1 AE) in a 10-minute period.
It would have been easy enough for BU to choose to hold on to its one goal lead and look to regroup at halftime. But with just under 30 seconds remaining in the first half, the Terriers hit their stride and the nature of the game changed as junior attack Hannah Frey recorded an unassisted goal to double the BU lead with 22 seconds left before the halftime buzzer.
From that moment forward, the Terriers went on an 8-0 run over the next 20 minutes to turn what was looking to be an uncertain outcome into a 15-6 rout to open up conference play.
“I think at any point, you need to make sure you answer on an opponent’s goal,” BU coach Liz Robertshaw said. “The fact that we could get a goal on the board before the end of the half was really big for us, to show that we can play a little bit harder and go faster.”
Indeed, the goal from Frey did allow BU to develop a more aggressive attack in the game’s second half. Despite the Terriers’ six first-half goals on 12 shots, Robertshaw noted that they would have to continue to improve on offense to compete in conference play.
Getting the goal right before halftime only emphasized this fact for the Terriers going into the locker room and heading into the second half.
“It was something that we told the girls at halftime – we have to get the draw controls and we have to push the fast break because that gives us confidence,” Robertshaw said. “Our team works well when we go hard.”
While the offensive outburst in the second half was central to the Terriers getting back to the .500 plateau on Saturday, offensive production hasn’t been a pressing concern for BU at this juncture in the young season.
Perhaps the most encouraging thing to be taken away from the game was the fact that the BU defense and goalkeepers effectively clamped down on the Binghamton attack in the second half.
After allowing four goals in relatively quick succession, on just five shots, the Terrier defense used halftime, much in the same fashion as the offense did, to reassess the game moving forward.
And, ultimately, it paid off. Following the goal from Binghamton midfielder Lizzie Wright with 1:08 left in the first half, the Bearcats would not score again for the next 23 minutes as they struggled to break through the regrouped Terrier defense.
“Defensively, I was happy with the way they shut down some of their players,” Robertshaw said. “I know we gave up a couple goals to their top players, but to hold a team like Binghamton to six goals is great for us.”
The six goals on 12 total shots were a bright step forward for a BU team that has struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard for much of the season. Going into the game against the Bearcats, a BU team that is particularly inexperienced in goal had been allowing 12 goals per game.
Central to this revamped defensive effort was senior midfielder Corcoran Downey who Robertshaw said was able to elevate the rest of the defense with her tenacious, tireless play.
And for Downey and the Terriers, such a concerted, improved effort was enough to pick up the win and get back on track as conference play gets underway.
“I was really excited by some of the caused turnovers and some of the great play, especially with Corcoran Downey,” Robertshaw said. “I think she set a tone for an aggressive style of defense, which is good.”
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