The Boston University women’s lacrosse team lost its second consecutive game Wednesday, falling to the University of Massachusetts Amherst 7-2 in its home opener at New Balance Field.
BU (1-2) struggled offensively against its in-state rival UMass (4-0), only scoring two goals in regulation. UMass struck first with senior Amy Tiernan scoring her fifth goal in four games. However, BU would take the 2-1 lead with goals from senior attacks Jenna Boarman and Lindsay Weiner.
With the Terriers looking to head into halftime with the lead, the Minutemen’s leading goal scorer, midfielder Hannah Murphy, took control, scoring two goals in the final four minutes to give UMass a 3-2 halftime advantage.
The Terriers’ two lone goals in the first half would be it for the rest of the game as UMass stifled the home side in the second half. UMass goalkeeper Rachel Vallarelli kept BU’s offense at bay by recording nine saves for the game. BU coach Liz Robertshaw said Vallarelli was a key part of the Minutemens’ victory.
“Give credit to their keeper who made big saves. She rose to the occasion, and we didn’t combat that by continuing to press on her,” she said in an email.
Robertshaw said she was disappointed in her team’s offensive showing.
“Today was an extremely disappointing showing from our team offensively,” she said. “People played tentatively like they were trying to not make a mistake, and in doing that, they took our aggressive attacking mindset out of play.”
The Minutemen stepped up their offensive game in the second half, during which they scored four of their seven goals. Sophomore Sarah Crowley scored three of UMass’s four goals while also assisting on a goal by attack Callie Santos.
It was the matchup between two high scorers, redshirt junior attack Mallory Collins and UMass’s Murphy. Collins, who before the game was the leader in goals per game in the Patriot League, failed to record a goal or point on only one shot.
It was the latter who would leave her mark on the game as Murphy scored the final goal of the contest, as well as her third of the game.
Robertshaw said she respected Murphy’s stellar showing, but also said the Terriers’ lackluster offense was more influential in the loss.
“She goes hard and stays in the play until she comes up with a goal,” she said. “I appreciate that mentality, and I think our players did a good job controlling that. Our issues today were in the fact we couldn’t come up with eight goals in 60 minutes.”
The Terrier defense let up a season-low seven goals, and sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Meegan registered a career-high 15 saves.
Although 11 of her saves were in the first half, Robertshaw said Meegan had a strong overall showing Wednesday.
Robertshaw said she has confidence in Meegan, who struggled against Vanderbilt University on Feb. 13, and said she hopes her leadership and play will continue throughout the season.
“She looked great all week since Vanderbilt,” she said. “She’s taking her role as a leader personally and was well prepared to backup her defensive unit. She did her job today and did it well. How she played today is how I expect her to play for the rest of the year — calm, confident and solid.”
