The men's lacrosse team celebrates a goal
Brian Foley

No. 16 BU to Host No. 14 Army West Point Sunday in PL Title Game

May 7, 2022

#16 Boston University (11-4, 7-1 PL) vs. #14 Army West Point (12-3, 6-2 PL)
Date & Time: Sunday, May 8 | 12 p.m.
Venue: Nickerson Field | Boston, Mass.
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMLAX

The 16th-ranked and top-seeded Boston University men's lacrosse team will host second-seeded and 14th-ranked Army West Point in the 2022 Patriot League title game at Nickerson Field. Opening faceoff between the Terriers and the Black Knights is scheduled for 12 p.m., with the game televised live on CBS Sports Network. The winner of Sunday's contest will automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore Tommy Bourque's goal in overtime lifted BU to a 13-12 win over Lehigh in Friday's first semifinal. Army West Point also earned a one-goal win on Friday, as the Black Knights bested Loyola Maryland, 14-13.

Sunday's title game is a rematch of the regular-season finale on April 29, with Army edging the Terriers by one goal, 15-14, at Nickerson Field.

BU IN THE PL TOURNAMENT

  • This is the Terriers' first trip to the Patriot League title game.
  • BU has made every Patriot League Tournament since 2017, reaching the semifinals on four different occasions (including this season)
  • The Terriers are 4-4 in their eight Patriot League Tournament games, including a 3-0 record at Nickerson Field.
  • In addition to Friday's win over Lehigh, BU bested Lehigh, 10-4, in the 2017 PL Quarterfinals at Nickerson and also defeated Bucknell, 14-8, in the 2019 PL Quarterfinals.
  • BU and Army faced off in the 2017 semifinals at Loyola, with Army earning a 10-7 victory.
TERRIER TIDBITS
  • This is the first time in program history that BU is hosting the Patriot League's championship weekend.
  • That honor was gained after the Terriers went 7-1 in league play and won their first-ever regular-season title.
  • BU won three major year-end awards on Monday, head coach Ryan Polley was named Patriot League Coach of the Year, senior Matt Garber was named PL Goalkeeper of the Year and junior Roy Meyer was named PL Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Garber and Meyer were two of a program-record five Terriers to be selected to the All-Patriot League First Team, joining senior midfielder Jake Cates, junior attack Vince D'Alto and junior defender Patrick Morrison.
  • Senior attack Timmy Ley and junior faceoff specialist Conor Calderone secured a spot on the All-PL Second Team.
  • The starting attack trio of D'Alto (44g, 29a), Ley (39g, 30a) and junior Louis Perfetto (28g, 33a) have combined for 203 points this season.
  • BU is the only school in the country that has three attackers with at least 25 goals and 25 assists, and the Terriers are also the only team in the nation that has three attackers with at least 60 points.
  • Ley continues to own the longest goal scoring streak in the country, having found the back of the net in 37 straight games.
  • Meyer remains atop the national leaderboard in both total caused turnovers (48) and caused turnovers per game (3.2) after forcing five Lehigh giveaways on Friday.
  • BU is the national leader in caused turnovers per game (11.87) and is one of the top teams in the nation on the ride, holding opponents to a .775 clear percentage.

SERIES HISTORY

  • BU is 2-8 all-time against Army West Point, earning an 8-7 win at Nickerson on April 7, 2018, as well as a 15-13 victory in West Point on April 6, 2019.
  • Four of the five games that BU and Army have played at Nickerson Field have been decided by two goals or fewer.

SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS

  • Army West Point has won two straight games, both of which were at Nickerson Field.
  • The Black Knights bested BU, 15-14, in the regular-season finale on April 29.
  • They then advanced to Sunday's title tilt with a 14-13 triumph over Loyola Maryland.
  • Senior Brendan Nichtern, the PL Offensive Player of the Year, entered the weekend first in the nation in assists per game (3.64) and second in the NCAA in points per game (6.14).
  • Nichtern had nine points (4g, 5a) against Loyola on Friday and 10 points (2g, 8a) against BU on April 29.
  • Five different Black Knights have at least 24 goals this season.
  • Freshman Will Coletti has won 55.4% of his faceoffs this year and leads Army with 95 ground balls.
  • Senior goalkeeper Wyatt Schupler has started all 15 games, posting a 11.02 goals-against average and a .515 save percentage.
UP NEXT
  • If the Terriers win, they will find out their NCAA Tournament opponent on Sunday night at 9 p.m.
  • Sunday's selection show will be televised on ESPNU.
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