Terriers Trek to No. 15 Army Saturday
April 2, 2015 | Men's Lacrosse
Game Notes
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The Boston University men's lacrosse team will travel to No. 15 Army on Saturday in battle between two second-place squads in the Patriot League. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
BU (6-3, 3-2 PL) and Army (7-3, 3-2 PL) are part of a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings with Colgate and Loyola Maryland. Both the Terriers and the Black Knights have just two Patriot League fixtures remaining after Saturday's showdown, with the top six squads earning a berth in the Patriot League tournament.
The Terriers are looking to return to their winning ways after Navy snapped their four-game win streak last weekend. Freshman Ryan Hilburn (3g) and sophomore Cal Dearth (2g, 1a) each had three points while freshman Colin MacDougall made his first collegiate start and stopped 15 shots. Hilburn has collected at least one point in all nine games this year and he has tallied at least two points in eight of those nine starts. The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native is fifth in the nation among freshmen with 27 points (15g, 12a).
Hilburn has been a big part of the second-year success of the BU offense. After averaging just 7.21 goals per game last year and 101 total tallies, the Terriers have scored 111 goals in just nine games this year and rank 11th in the NCAA and first in the Patriot League with an average of 12.33 goals per game.
Following a pair of Patriot League losses, Army has won two straight tilts, including a 12-4 road triumph over then-No. 20 Bucknell last weekend. Junior Connor Cook is the reigning PL Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a career-high five goals and adding two assists at Bucknell. Sophomore Cole Johnson leads the team in goals (26) and points (36) while senior John Glesener has a team-best 15 assists.
Senior goalkeeper Sam Somers leads the Patriot League in both save percentage (.575) and goals-against average (6.66). Army has the top defense in the Patriot League and the second-ranked defense in the nation at 6.40 goals allowed per game and also causes 7.80 turnovers per game, which ranks second just ahead of BU (7.78).
BU will return to Nickerson Field on Tuesday night to begin a three-game homestand against Harvard. Opening draw is set for 7 p.m.
