BOSTON - Senior Cal Dearth's fourth goal of the game 1:09 into overtime lifted the No. 19 Boston University men's lacrosse team to a thrilling 12-11 victory over Holy Cross on Friday night at Nickerson Field.

THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: #19 Boston University 12, Holy Cross 11 (OT)
Records: BU (11-3, 5-3 PL), Holy Cross (4-9, 4-4 PL)
Location: Nickerson Field  - Boston, Mass.
Highlights (w/Dearth interview) | Polley Postgame Comments

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH DEARTH

• After winning the opening faceoff of overtime, the Terriers called timeout to set up their offense. Eventually sophomore James Burr got the ball to Dearth, who spun off his defender and uncorked a shot into the back of the net for the Terriers' third overtime victory of the season.
• Dearth has now tallied nine goals over the last two games to help BU earn a home game in the Patriot League quarterfinals.

PLAYOFF POSITIONING DETERMINED

• The Terriers clinched the third seed with their win, meaning they will host sixth-seeded Lehigh on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
• Lehigh earned a 10-6 win over the Terriers in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, earlier this season.

FOUR FOR BURR, TOO

• Burr was excellent on Friday, scoring the Terriers' first three goals of the game and finishing with four on the night.
• He also caused one turnover and collected three ground balls in a terrific all-around effort.

LATE RALLY FORCES OT

• For the second time this season, junior Hayden Ruiz forced overtime with the tying goal.
• With 1:48 to play in regulation, Ruiz tallied his eighth goal of the season to even the score, 11-1.
• He also sent the season-opening game at Providence to overtime with a fourth-quarter equalizer.

SENIOR SENDOFF

• Prior to Friday's contest, BU honored its 17-member senior class that laid the foundation for the program.
• Those 17 seniors helped the Terriers claim the most wins in program history this year in addition to the team's first-ever Patriot League postseason berth.

TURNPIKE TROPHY POINT EARNED

• The win gave BU a commanding 16-1 lead over Holy Cross in the Turnpike Trophy standings.
• The 2017 Patriot League Women's Golf Championship is next in the all-sport competition between the two rivals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Burr scored two of those three goals in the opening 15 minutes, including one with two seconds to play in the quarter to tie the game, 2-2.
• His first goal came when senior Jack Beall beat the 10-man ride with a terrific pass to Burr, who finished into the vacant cage.
• Burr then opened the scoring in the second stanza when he picked off a pass from Crusader netminder Jonathan Tesoro and scored into another open net.
• Dearth made it 4-2, and then with the score 5-3, Beall tallied his first goal of the year off a feed from junior Ryan Hilburn.
• Holy Cross rattled off three straight goals to take a 6-5 lead, but Dearth responded to send the teams to the locker room even at 6-6.
• Senior Cam Pincus' first collegiate goal made it 7-6 when his shot from the BU half of the field sailed into an open cage.
• Dearth and sophomore Brendan Homire also scored to give BU a 9-6 lead entering the final frame.
• The Crusaders tied the score, 9-9, with 10:52 to play before Burr's fourth of the game regained the lead for BU.
• Two Jon Vogel goals gave Holy Cross an 11-10 lead with 5:07 remaining in regulation before Ruiz's heroics forced the extra session.

GAME NOTES

• Wilson extended his point streak to 40 games thanks to his two assists.
• In addition to his first collegiate goal, Pincus also led BU with two caused turnovers and finished with three ground balls.
• Beall recorded his first two-point game since April 17, 2015 - also against Holy Cross.
• Junior Joe Stucky went 14-of-27 at the faceoff X with eight ground balls, including a 6-of-9 performance across the fourth quarter and overtime.
• The Terriers went a perfect 11-of-11 on clears.
• Senior Christian Carson-Banister made 14 saves.

UP NEXT

• BU will look to advance to the Patriot League semifinals when the Terriers host Lehigh on Tuesday night at Nickerson Field (7 p.m.)
• If the Terriers win, they will face second-seeded Army West Point in Friday's semifinal.