US Lacrosse Magazine: Is This the Year for BU's Big Breakthrough?

The Boston University men's lacrosse team will begin its fourth varsity season on Saturday when the Terriers travel to Providence to face the Friars at 1 p.m.

BU has been a program on the rise since its inception and will look to make a name for itself on the national stage in 2017. Seventeen seniors will lead a deep squad that graduated just four players from last season. The Terriers were tabbed to finish fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll and are the 24th-ranked team in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse's preseason projections after earning their first winning season last year at 8-7.

Leading the way for the Terriers are two preseason All-Americans - seniors Cal Dearth and Sam Talkow. Both were named to the Patriot League Preseason All-League Team on Thursday a year removed from earning First Team All-Patriot League honors. Talkow was the conference's Faceoff Specialist of the Year in 2016, winning 69.5 percent of the draws he took. Dearth was a force in the midfield, scoring 15 goals and adding 13 assists for 28 points.

Also back for BU on offense is junior Jack Wilson, the team's leading point producer (36), and sophomores Brendan Homire (17 assists) and James Burr (28 goals). Defensively, Second Team All-Patriot League selection Greg Wozniak returns for his senior season. He led the Terriers with 28 caused turnovers and also collected 56 ground balls. Senior Dominick Calisto and sophomore Quintin Germain will also be back on defense after both players started every game last season at close defense.

Senior goalkeeper Christian Carson-Banister started all 15 games last season and posted a 9.70 goals-against average and a .533 save percentage last season. He has been particularly strong against Providence over the last two seasons, allowing just 6.0 goals per game against the Friars.

BU bested Providence, 9-5, in last year's opener at Nickerson Field. Talkow went 16-of-18 at the faceoff X and both Burr and Wilson tallied two goals and an assist. The Terriers have won each of their last two season openers and began last season 3-0. Saturday's showdown will be the first of four straight road contests to start the season. BU will also travel to UMass Lowell, Hartford and Navy before the home opener against Bryant on Feb. 28.

Providence finished 2016 at 7-9 overall and 1-5 in the BIG EAST, eventually falling to Denver in the conference tournament semifinals. Senior defender Jarrod Neumann was an Inside Lacrosse preseason All-American after causing 19 turnovers and collecting 42 ground balls in 2016. On offense, sophomore Brendan Kearns is the top returning goal scorer, assist creator and point producer, having tallied 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points a year ago. Sophomore goaltender Tate Boyce is back after recording a .526 save percentage and a 10.71 goals-against average as a freshman.

A week from Saturday, the Terriers will head north to UMass Lowell to face the River Hawks on Feb. 11. Game time is set for 1 p.m.