Boston University Secures NCAA Bid in Women's Lacrosse

Boston University Secures NCAA Bid in Women's Lacrosse

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Courtesy: Boston University Athletic Communications

BOSTON - The No. 6/8 Boston University women's lacrosse team sealed a fourth straight trip to NCAA tournament on Saturday, posting a 15-3 victory over Sacred Heart in an NCAA Play-In Game at Nickerson Field. Junior Sarah Dalton had a seven-point afternoon, posting five goals and two assists to help the Terriers match a program record with their 14th straight victory while improving to 17-2 on the season.

Despite shutting out the Pioneers in the first half, BU scored just five goals before the break but took a 9-0 lead less than seven minutes into the latter half. The Pioneers got on the board with 21:54 left in regulation, but the Terriers reeled off three goals in a span of 97 seconds to take a commanding 12-1 advantage before securing the victory.

Sophomore Traci Landy found the back of the net three times and junior Steph Walker had a hand in three goals, scoring twice in the early stages before adding an assist on the Terriers' first goal of the second half. Freshman Rachel Collins also recorded a pair of goals and an assist.

Freshman Molly Swain had the first multi-point game of her career, tallying a goal and an assist, while senior co-captain Lauren Morton and sophomore Jenny Taft each scored one goal apiece. Sophomores McKinley Curro and Xan Weitzel were each credited with one assist.

Sophomore Rachel Klein recorded seven saves in goal for the Terriers, while sophomore goalkeeper Chelsea Wagner made 15 stops for the Pioneers, who will finish their season with a record of 12-8.

Freshman Jessica Ingrilli scored two of Sacred Heart's three goals and posted game highs in both ground balls (7) and caused turnovers (3). Dalton corralled a game-best five draw controls, while Morton, sophomore Kara Hastings and freshman Katie Nichols each had two caused turnovers.

BU outshot Sacred Heart, 31-14, and held a slim 22-20 edge in ground balls. The Terriers claimed 15 of the game's 20 draw controls and converted three of their five free-position chances. The Pioneers came up empy on both of their free-position tries.

The game was a match-up of the America East Conference and Northeast Conference champions, as one of eight automatic NCAA berths was on the line. BU will be making its sixth appearance in the national tournament.

The 2008 NCAA Championship bracket will be announced on Monday (May 5) exclusively on CBS College Sports Tonight, airing on the CBS College Sports Network between 7-8 p.m.