PHILADELPHIA – Squaring off against Temple for the first time in nearly two decades, the Boston University women's lacrosse team outlasted the Owls, 12-9, Tuesday afternoon at Howarth Field.

Holding a four-goal lead at the start of the second half, Temple exploded for a 5-0 run to put the scoreboard in its favor with just under 16 minutes left to play. Kaitlin Belval would not let the Terriers go down without a fight as she delivered back-to-back goals to knot the score at 9-all before Emily Vervlied netted what proved to be the game-winning goal with 4:32 remaining.

Belval led all players with four goals, three of which came in an eight-minute span as part of a 5-1 game-closing run, while Vervlied picked up the first hat trick of her career.

Kennady Smith was outstanding in net once again, setting a new season high with 17 saves. Tonianne Magnelli was equally stellar on the defensive end, leading the team with four ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers.
 
How it Happened

• Vervlied sent in a one-timer from Kailey Conry and Belval followed 30 seconds later with a solo move to the cage to give BU an initial 2-0 lead.
• Temple streaked its own 2-0 run to knot the score, but Christine Carugati held the ball on a restart and took it the length of the field to put the Terriers back on top.
• Conry accounted for another solo shot, working her way from behind the cage and found the lower corner of the net.
• Vervlied took a page out of Carugati's book and converted on another transition goal, while Maddie MacMaster split a pair of defenders to bury a feed from Vervlied with nine seconds left in the half, giving the Terriers a 6-3 cushion.
• Lexi Lewis kept the momentum rolling by finding the upper 90 early in the second half.
• The Owls caught fire on the attack, using a 5-0 run over a six-minute span to take their first advantage, 8-7, at the halfway point in the frame.
• Belval 5-holed the Owls keeper to tie it up, but Temple responded on its ensuing possession to reclaim the one-goal gap with 10 minutes left.
• Belval continued to impose her will, delivering another unassisted goal with 6:45 on the clock to make it a 9-9 game.
• Vervlied polished off her hat trick off a find from Caroline Pinho to put the Terriers back ahead, while Belval struck just 34 seconds later to make it a two-goal game with just under four minutes remaining. 
• Makenzie Irvine roped an empty-net goal with 16 seconds left to seal the game.

Game Notes

• Belval matched a career high for the third time with four goals.
• The Terriers held Temple to convert on just 2-of-10 of its free position attempts.
• Conry notched her sixth straight multi-assist game with two helpers.
• Smith has 31 saves over the last two games.

Up Next

• The Terriers will close out their three-game road trip on Saturday, March 16 at Lehigh for their Patriot League opener.