BOSTON – Welcoming No. 6/7 Army West Point to Nickerson Field for its Patriot League opener, the Boston University men's lacrosse team overcame an early five-goal deficit to come within one goal twice in the fourth quarter, but the Black Knights held on to escape with a 12-10 victory on Saturday afternoon.

After trailing Army West Point (3-1, 1-0 PL) by four at halftime, BU (2-1, 0-1 PL) opened the third quarter with three straight goals to make it a 7-6 game. Army eventually pushed its lead back to three entering the fourth quarter, but BU was able to get within one at 10-9 and again at 11-10. It was a one-goal contest for nearly eight minutes, but BU was unable to find an equalizer before Bobby Abshire's marker with 1:02 remaining in regulation sealed the victory for the Black Knights.

Junior Timmy Ley paced the attack with four goals and two assists as part of a six-point afternoon. Sophomore Vince D'Alto produced a hat trick and added an assist to finish with four points, while freshman Christian Quadrino (2g, 1a) and sophomore Louis Perfetto (1g, 1a) also had multi-point efforts.

BU caused 12 of the Black Knights' 18 turnovers, with senior Andrew Volk leading the way from the defensive midfield. He forced three giveaways and added two ground balls in an outstanding effort. Sophomores Roy Meyer (3 GB, 2 CT) and Patrick Morrison (1 GB, 2 CT) also had a pair of caused turnovers, while graduate student Nicholas Ellerton added three ground balls and one caused turnover. Senior Sean Christman battled all day at the X and finished the day 11-of-27 with four ground balls. His 6-for-9 effort in the third quarter helped spark the Terriers' comeback bid.

Junior Matt Garber made 12 saves in his first Patriot League start. He also caused a turnover and recovered a ground ball.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU recorded the first seven shots of the game, placing four of them on frame, but Army broke through first with 8:31 left in the first quarter.
• The Black Knights kept the pressure on the defense and closed out the quarter with two goals in the final 40 seconds, putting the Terriers behind 5-0.
• Working a man-up situation to start the second quarter, Ley converted off a feed from fellow junior Matt Hilburn to get the Terriers on the board with 13:22 left on the clock.
• After Army responded with a goal, D'Alto notched back-to-back goals just 1:01 apart to make it 6-3 with 3:16 to go until the break, but the Black Knights struck in the waning seconds of the quarter to create a 7-3 halftime score.
• Quadrino opened the second half with a nifty goal. He worked from behind the cage, used a hesitation ankle-breaker, faked out the goalie and finished to spark the Terriers as the third quarter got underway.
• Ley found Perfetto right in front of the crease for a goal, and followed a minute later with his second of the afternoon on an assist from D'Alto, to make it a one-goal game with 10:24 left in the quarter.
• The Black Knights snapped the 3-0 run with a pair of scores, though Quadrino answered to get BU back within two.
• Army added one more to reclaim the three-goal lead at the end of the frame.
• Ley put on a show to start the fourth, scoring back-to-back unassisted goals, including a highlight-reel diving finish in front of the crease to get the Terriers within one.
• Army cushioned its lead to two until D'Alto rocketed a long-distance strike from Quadrino to reduce the deficit to one with 9:54 remaining.
• The Terriers and Black Knights traded chances throughout the remainder of the contest, with Garber and the BU 10-man ride forcing Army into miscues that created more possessions for the home side.
• After forcing a late turnover, Army capitalized with Abshire's second marker of the day to put the game out of reach.

GAME NOTES

• BU went 20-for-22 on clear attempts and limited Army to a 19-of-25 performance in its clearing game.
• The Terriers were a perfect 13-of-13 in the clearing game during the second half.
• Ley has put together two six-point games this season; he scored six goals at Merrimack on Feb. 20.
• He extended his goal scoring streak to 18 games thanks to his four-goal day, and currently leads BU with 13 goals and 15 points.
• This was Ley's third career two-assist effort; he matched his career high in both points and assists.
• Quadrino has notched seven goals and two assists for nine points in three career games.
• D'Alto and Perfetto have yet to be held without a point in their brief nine-game Terrier careers.
• BU converted its only man-up chance of the day and did not allow Army to get an EMO.

UP NEXT

• BU will travel to Holy Cross on Friday, March 12.
• Opening faceoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.