Courtesy of Boston University Athletic Communications
MALVERN, Pa. - The Boston University lacrosse team
had its season come to an end on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA
tournament, as eighth-seeded Penn posted a 14-9 victory over the
Terriers at Draper Walsh Stadium on the campus of Immaculata University.
Playing in her school-record 79th career game, senior Traci
Landy tallied a team-best three goals and added an assist.
Despite doubling up Penn by a 6-3 margin in the second half, the
Terriers were unable to recover from an 11-3 halftime deficit and an
18-save performance by Penn goaltender Emily Szelest. BU finishes the
season with a record of 11-9.
Senior McKinley
Curro and freshman Kristen
Mogavero both recorded a pair of goals and junior Rachel
Collins and sophomore Hannah
Frey each found the back of net once. Senior Xan
Weitzel assisted on two goals to finish her career with 106
helpers, good for second all-time at BU. Landy's three goals allowed her
to pass Lindsay Lewis '06 to finish second in school history with 190
tallies.
The Quakers (15-3) were paced offensively by senior Ali DeLuca, as
the Tewaaraton finalist registered a game-high five goals. Junior Giulia
Giordano recorded a hat trick and senior Emma Spiro scored two goals
for Penn, which advances to face top-seeded Maryland in next weekend's
quarterfinal round.
BU outshot Penn, 34-27, and held a 15-10 advantage in draw controls.
Each team collected 14 ground balls on the day. The Quakers converted on
four of their seven free-position chances, while the Terriers were
2-of-6.
DeLuca opened the scoring 6:06 after the opening draw and added two more
tallies during a run that saw the Quakers jump out to a 7-1 lead with
just under 12 minutes left in the opening half.
A free-position goal by Landy with 9:07 remaining before the break
made it an 8-3 affair, but Penn scored the final three goals of the half
to take an 11-8 halftime lead.
The Terriers tried to kickstart a comeback, beginning with Curro's
50th goal of the season just 58 seconds into the second half. Penn
responded less than three minutes later to regain an eight-goal cushion,
but BU held the Quakers scoreless for the next 20:36.
During Penn's skein, BU reeled off three straight goals, capped by
tallies by Landy and Collins just 28 seconds apart to make it a 12-7
contest with 7:48 remaining in regulation.
The Quakers, however, ended their drought with goals by Erin Brennan
and DeLuca to push their advantage to 14-7. Frey and Mogavero scored the
game's final two goals to create the 14-9 final.
Senior Rachel
Klein recorded eight saves for the Terriers and was replaced
briefly by freshman Kim
Elsworth for 2:22 during the late stages in the second half.
Szelest made nine saves in each half to keep the BU offense in check and
finish with a career-best 18 stops.