Boston University (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. Merrimack (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 12 | 12 p.m.
Venue: Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMLAX

The Boston University men's lacrosse team will begin its ninth season as a varsity program on Saturday when the Terriers welcome Merrimack to Nickerson Field. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m.

Due to multiple Boston University home athletic competitions occurring on Saturday, Feb. 12, a parking advisory is being issued for this contest. Guests should plan for increased traffic and limited parking. Please click here for more details.

TERRIER TIDBITS

• BU went 6-5 last year during a COVID-shortened season, falling to Colgate in the Patriot League quarterfinals.
• The Terriers return a majority of their starters at every position group except the faceoff X.
• At attack, the trio of junior Vince D'Alto, senior Timmy Ley and junior Louis Perfetto will be back after an explosive 2021 season.
• Ley led the team with 27 goals despite missing the final four games of the season and enters Saturday with a 22-game goal streak.
• D'Alto was a Second Team All-Patriot League selecton after leading BU with 42 points on 23 goals and a team-high 19 assists.
• Perfetto notched 18 goals and added 17 assists for 35 points, one better than Ley (27g, 7a).
• Sophomore Christian Quadrino returns after a terrific freshman season.
• Playing both midfield and attack, Quadrino earned Second Team All-PL honors thanks to a 22-point (14g, 8a) campaign.
• Senior Matt Baugher (10g, 4a) and sophomore Tommy Bourque (9g, 2a) also contributed to the midfield success in 2021.
• Senior midfielder Jake Cates played just two games last year but is expected to start on Saturday.
• On defense, junior Patrick Morrison is back afrer leading BU with 38 ground balls and finishing second on the squad with 11 caused turnovers in his first year as a starter.
• He'll be joined by senior Will Carson, a three-year starter who had 19 ground balls and seven caused turnvoers in eight appearances in 2022.
• Junior LSM Roy Meyer is back after a sensational sophomore campaign in which he led BU with 26 caused turnovers and was second with 32 ground balls.
• Senior goalkeeper Matt Garber was outstanding in his first year as a starter in 2021.
• Garber was 6-3 with a 9.78 goals-against average and a .573 save percentage.
• Two transfers will bolster the Terriers' faceoff group, as junior Conor Calderone arrives from Maryland while sophomore Jax Popovich comes to BU from Richmond.

SERIES HISTORY

• BU and Merrimack met for the first time to open the 2021 campaign, with the Terriers earning a 15-12 road win.
• Matt Garber made 17 saves in his first collegiate start.
• Timmy Ley scored six goals and Vince D'Alto had seven points.
• BU held an 11-7 lead after three quarters, but Merrimack stormed back to tie the game at 12-12 with 3:35 remaining in regulation.
• The Terriers called timeout and then scored on the ensuing faceoff, as Sean Christman won the draw and helped set up D'Alto's strike that proved to be the winner.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

• Merrimack is in its third season at the Division I level after winning back-to-back Division II national titles (2018 and 2019).
• The Warriors opened their 2022 schedule with an 8-7 loss at Hofstra.
• Christian Thomas posted a game-high five points by way of two goals and three assists, factoring on all three of the Warriors' second-half strikes.
• Tommy Rooney added a pair of goals while Jack Rooney tallied a goal and an assist.
• In the cage, Henry Vogt made 10 saves in the loss.
• Allyn French went 8-for-17 at the faceoff X with two ground balls.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will continue their three-game homestand at Nickerson Field on Saturday, Feb. 19, when they host No. 20 Bryant.
• Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.