The Boston University men's lacrosse team will begin a two-game road stretch to conclude its Patriot League regular-season schedule on Saturday when the Terriers travel to Baltimore to face No. 9/10 Loyola Maryland. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS
- BU is currently in a three-way tie for fifth in the Patriot League standings at 2-4 with Colgate and Army West Point.
- The Terriers control their own destiny for a postseason spot, as a win in each of their final two games will clinch a postseason berth.
- If both BU and Army lose on Saturday, the Terriers will still control their own destiny and can qualify with a win in the final regular-season game.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR
- The Terriers clinched their first-ever Patriot League postseason berth with a thrilling 12-11 overtime win over Loyola Maryland at Nickerson Field last year.
- James Burr scored his second goal of the game 1:04 into overtime to seal the victory for BU.
- Jack Wilson notched five points (2g, 3a) while Brendan Homire, Michael Laviano and Hayden Ruiz each found the back of the net.
- John MacLean added an assist.
- Joe Stucky went 17-of-27 at the faceoff X and won eight ground balls.
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Loyola has won three straight games, including an 11-8 win at Georgetown on Tuesday.
- Junior Pat Spencer is third in the NCAA with 65 points thanks to 40 assists, a number which ranks second in the nation.
- Senior Jay Drapeau leads Loyola with 29 goals, followed by Spencer with 21 markers and freshman Kevin Lindley with 21 goals.
- Senior Foster Huggins leads the country with 37 caused turnovers and also has 28 ground balls.
- Sophomore Ryan McNulty leads the Greyhounds with 33 ground balls.
- Loyola only faces off at 41.9% as a team, with reigning Patriot League Rookie and Faceoff Specialist of the Week Bailey Savio having won 45.5% of the draws he has taken this year.
- Junior goalkeeper Jacob Stover has started all 11 games for the Greyhounds, posting an 8.37 goals-against average and a .522 save percentage.
HISTORY WITH THE GREYHOUNDS
- The Terriers improved to 1-3 all-time against Loyola Maryland with last year's victory.
- Their last two losses to the Greyhounds have both been close, as they suffered a heartbreaking 13-12 loss in Baltimore in 2016 as well as an 8-6 defeat at Nickerson in 2015.
MCSORLEY IS GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
- Sophomore Joe McSorley was named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week on Monday.
- McSorley made a career-high 16 saves, including eight in the second half, to help BU earn an 8-7 win over Army West Point.
- He held the Black Knights scoreless over the final 18 minutes of the game.
- This is McSorley's third PL Goalkeeper of the Week honor; he also won the award on Feb. 5 and March 5.
- McSorley ranks first in the conference and eighth in the nation with an average of 11.75 saves per game.
- He is also second in the Patriot League with a .532 save percentage.
ONE OF THE BEST ROOKIES IN THE NATION
- Freshman Chris Gray was added to the Tewaaraton Watch List on Thursday.
- He has tallied a point in each of his first 12 collegiate contests, and Gray has also recorded at least five points six times, including in four of the last six contests.
- Saturday was the eight straight game in which Gray recorded at least two points.
- Gray leads all NCAA freshmen with 31 assists, and his 51 points are second among national rookies.
- He also leads BU in both categories.
- Gray is eighth in the country in assists and ranks 14th overall in points.
MAN-UP MAGIC
- The Terriers boast the fourth-ranked man-up offense in the country.
- BU has converted on 57.6% of its EMOs this season, going 19-of-33.
- The Terriers are second in the NCAA in total man-up goals.
- BU went 3-of-4 in man-up situations on Saturday against Army West Point, which entered the game with the nation's fourth-best man-down defense.
- The Black Knights had only allowed three man-up goals all season prior to Saturday.
DEFENSE COMING TOGETHER
- BU has held opponents to just 7.33 goals per game over the past three tilts.
- One reason for that success has been the return of sophomore Chase Levesque and junior Quintin Germain.
- Levesque has gathered nine ground balls and caused six turnovers as the starting LSM while Germain has steadied the close defense unit.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Joe McSorley has also been terrific, averaging 13 saves pr game and posting a save percentage of .639 over that three-game stretch.
NEXT UP: HOLY CROSS
- BU will head to Worcester on Friday, April 20, for its Patriot League finale at Holy Cross.
- The annual Turnpike Trophy matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m.
