With a win over the University of Vermont on Saturday, the Boston University lacrosse team can clinch a berth in the America East Conference semifinals. With a loss, the Terriers fall into a possible three-way tie with Vermont and the University of New Hampshire.
As this is the season finale, it is the Terriers’ (7-8, 3-2 AE) final chance to clinch a playoff spot. The Terriers lost to New Hampshire earlier in the year, and with a loss to Vermont (8-8, 2-3 AE), they would likely be on the outside-looking-in at the end of the season. Vermont recently upset New Hampshire to give the Catamounts a chance to make the playoffs.
“I’m expecting a team that has a lot of confidence,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw. “If they win they go to the tournament, so I am expecting a very aggressive and very confident UVM team.”
The Terriers are facing their first playoff-style test, as a win would extend their season and a loss would bring it to an abrupt close. In such a pressured situation, Robertshaw is looking for her players to relax and play confidently.
“I said to the girls, ‘From here on out, we are in playoff situations and it is win and move on’,” Robertshaw said. “I am expecting good things, but I guess we will see on Saturday.”
BU won its most recent game, a 12-3 win over a cellar-dwelling Stony Brook University team. This snapped a four-game losing streak and gave the Terriers the ability to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
“I think the win gave us a lot of confidence and it gave us a lot of smiles back on our faces,” Robertshaw said. “When you are on a losing streak, everyone gets a little tense and starts pressing for that next goal instead of relaxing and playing the game.”
To stop UVM, the Terriers will need to focus their defensive efforts on Catamount midfielder Sydney Mas, who so far this year has netted a league-leading 50 goals. She currently holds the all-time rookie single-season scoring record in the AE.
“Our entire team needs to make sure we are aware of her,” Robertshaw said. “Collectively as a defense, we are going to have to stifle their attack a little bit and come up with big saves.”
Not too far behind Mas on the scoring charts is BU sophomore attack Danielle Etrasco, who is second in the league with 44 goals on the season. Defenses have been focusing their attention on her lately, but she is still a potent threat for the Terrier offense.
“She is someone we look toward to score goals, and I think we become more confident when she does,” Robertshaw said. “But we need the entire team to step up and score goals to take the pressure off Danielle.”
Etrasco and senior midfielder Corcoran Downey have been nominated for the AE Fans’ Choice Player of the Year. The two have each won multiple AE Players of the Week awards this season and will be strong candidates to win.
“They have really done a great job. With some of the adversities we have had this year, those two have really stepped their game up and played well,” Robertshaw said.
Freshman goalkeeper Christina Sheridan will once again start in the cage for the Terriers. In her first elimination style game of her collegiate career, Sheridan will be put to the test against a dangerous offense.
“I think she has been doing a great job,” Robertshaw said. “To put a freshman in cage in some of the games we have had, I think she has done really well.”
On the other end of the spectrum, the seniors of the team will be playing in what may be the last game of their career.
“I expect the leadership and keeping everyone calm from the seniors,” Robertshaw said. “We can’t think about the tournament. We can’t think about the NCAAs. We have to just focus on the game we are playing at the moment. I am going to expect them to keep the team very focused on that.”
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