WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Boston University women's lacrosse team used a fourth quarter push to earn a 12-5 win over American on Saturday afternoon at Jacobs Athletics Complex.
 
The Terriers (8-7, 3-5 PL) were up 5-2 at the half and the Eagles (5-10, 1-7 PL) punched back to bring the game within one goal, but the BU offense exploded for a 6-0 run over the final 4:56 to snag a crucial win.
 
Senior Hannah Tillier was the leading scorer for BU with a hat trick while sophomore Izabella Amonte, graduate student Kendall Sims and sophomore Tessa Geddes all notched two tallies.
 
Sophomore Natalie Aiosa only saw 11 shots on goal, but made six saves. BU caused 15 turnovers, its most this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Leah Hodgins was the first scorer for BU, finding the back of the net just 1:44 into the game.
• Then senior Hannah Tillier scored with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter on an assist from classmate Avery Jones.
• Just 12 seconds later, it was sophomore Tessa Geddes' turn, as she potted her 22^nd goal of the year.
• The Eagles scored their first goal of the game with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter.
• Entering the second quarter with a 3-1 lead, BU got a goal from senior Raegan Bailey 3:23 into the frame, her first of the year.
• The Eagles countered with a goal just 2:35 later, but then sophomore Izabella Amonte found the back of the net in transition as she was assisted by Bailey.
• After 8:31 of scoreless play in the third, American's leading scorer, Reagan Murdoch, broke through to make it 5-3 BU.
• Tillier also scored in the third, notching her 20^th tally of the season with 3:36 remaining.
• Murdoch scored twice for American to open the fourth, cutting the BU lead to just 6-5 with 11:00 left.
• After six minutes of scoreless play, the Terriers finally broke through thanks to a goal from Sims.
• Sims then immediately got a free position with 4:18 to play and scored again to push the lead to 8-5 BU with 4:18 to play.
• From there, the BU offense had a field day – junior defender Siri Hodgins went down the field by herself and scored her first career goal with 3:53 to play.
• With 2:44 left, Amonte found herself wide open in front of the crease and junior Elle Stevenson found her to add another goal for the Terriers.
• Geddes got her second of the game off an assist from Tillier with 1:19 remaining.
• Tillier capped off the day by completing her hat trick with 35 seconds remaining and giving BU a 12-5 lead.

GAME NOTES

• BU outshot American 37-16.
• The Terriers had a positive day on the draw control as well, picking up 13 compared to the Eagles' six.
• BU was perfect on its clears, going 20-for-20.
• The Terriers also picked up 23 ground balls to American's 14.
• With her first-quarter goal, Tillier recorded her 100^th career point.
• Tillier also added two assists, leading the game in points with five on the day.
• Tillier and junior Haley Matusz each grabbed four ground balls.
• This is the second straight year the Terriers have had a defender score a goal, as Ellen Monahan scored against Boston College a season ago.
• Along with her goal, Siri Hodgins caused four turnovers, a career high.
• Sims grabbed four draw controls to go along with her two goals.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will have a chance to clinch a spot in the Patriot League tournament with their final regular season contest of the year against Holy Cross.
• BU will host the Crusaders on Thursday, April 24, with opening draw set for 5 p.m.