The Boston University men’s lacrosse team has opened its season on a seven-game win streak after its 15-8 victory over Colgate University on Monday.
The team will return to Nickerson Field Saturday at noon for a game against Patriot League rival Bucknell University.
The Terriers (7-0, 2-0 Patriot League) head into their match against the Bison (2-4, 0-3 Patriot League) in the midst of their most successful start thus far in program history.
“We’ve got a nice formula: being consistent, practicing hard, practicing well, concentrating on our game plan and executing it. But, Bucknell is a great team, and we expect to get their best effort,” said BU head coach Ryan Polley. “I think it’s going to be a great game on Saturday.”
The Bison have been less successful so far this season, currently on a four-game losing streak. Two of the losses have been to Colgate (2-4, 1-2 Patriot League) and the United States Naval Academy, both of whom BU defeated. However, Bucknell did start the season on a positive note with wins against University of Delaware and Bryant University.
On Saturday, despite leading 8-6 in the fourth quarter, Bucknell fell to the College of the Holy Cross after the Crusaders (2-4, 2-1 Patriot League) scored four times in five minutes in the game’s final quarter to get a 10-8 win.
Midfielder Sean O’Brien, who leads Bucknell in goals with 19, notched a hat-trick against the Holy Cross. Meanwhile, attacker Will Sands has nine goals and 20 assists in six games played and had a four-point effort (two goals, two assists) against the Crusaders. Both O’Brian and Sands could pose a threat to BU’s defense this weekend.
“They are going to bring their goalie out of the cage and press up,” Polley said. “We have been working very hard on breaking that because not a lot of teams do that, and we are not a great clearing team.”
When BU played at Colgate, the Terriers scored 14 straight goals from 12 different players. Although Colgate was first on the board, the BU streak began with senior midfielder Henry Lee’s first quarter goal. By halftime, the Terriers found the back of the net eight more times, making the score 9-1.
The third quarter opened with a goal from senior midfielder Allen Winkoff and was followed by five more Terrier goals until the Raiders broke the streak with a goal of their own. The Raiders continued to fight back with three goals to start the fourth quarter. However, the momentum would not be enough to stop the Terriers.
BU’s defense has a played a substantial role this season, reflected in the team’s +35 goal differential.
Senior goalie Christian Carson-Banister comes into this game with a .674 save percentage and only 43 goals allowed. Last game, Carson-Banister made eight saves and allowed just three goals during 46 minutes.
Offensively, BU continues to be led by senior midfielder and Tewaaraton Watch List member Cal Dearth, who deposited one goal last weekend against Colgate. In total, he has 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points in seven games played.
Dearth and Carson-Banister are among the 17 seniors that Polley credits for much of the team’s success.
“Our seniors have been the biggest factor,” Polley said. “They have done a great job leading both on and off the field and playing great. Having been there before, they are putting our team in a position to win and leading by example.”
