New England Lacrosse Journal: Larivee Primed for a Breakout Junior Season

The Boston University women's lacrosse team will open the 2017 season on Wednesday at No. 13/17 Boston College. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

The Terriers, picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll, return 18 letter winners from last year's squad that went 10-8 and advanced to the Patriot League semifinals for the third straight season. Included in that group of returnees is senior goalkeeper Caroline Meegan, named to the Patriot League Preseason All-League Team. The lone goalkeeper recognized by the league, Meegan enters this season having been a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in each of the last two seasons. She was outstanding last year for BU, finishing with a Patriot League-best .520 save percentage and a league-high 9.73 saves per game.

Two of the Terriers' top three goal scorers will be back in 2017, including senior tri-captain Taylor Hardison. She finished 2016 second on the squad in scoring with 42 points thanks to a team-best 36 assists. Also back is junior Mickenzie Larivee, who scored 34 goals and finished with 41 points. That duo will lead a Terrier offense that ranked second in the Patriot League with an average of 11.78 goals per game. In addition, seven freshmen - two defenders, three midfielders, an attacker and a goalkeeper - will join the squad.

Senior Janelle Macone, a Second Team All-Patriot League honoree last year and one of this year's captains with Hardison and classmate Charlotte Castronovo, will anchor a Terrier defense that allowed fewer than 10 goals a game, one of just four Patriot League schools to do so. Macone secured 11 ground balls, caused 14 turnovers and won eight draw controls last season. Castronovo is also a major part of that defense, having caused 12 turnovers, collected 16 ground balls and also added a goal and an assist last season.

BC has already played three games this season, going 2-1 with wins over Holy Cross (19-8) and then-No. 15 UMass (18-10) and a loss at then-No. 5 Syracuse on Saturday. Sam Apuzzo leads the Eagles in assists (12) and points (18) while Kate Weeks has scored a team-high 14 goals.

Following Wednesday's contest, the Terriers will host UMass Lowell in their home opener on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.