Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston University
Lacrosse is Awesome
Home Sweet Home! Boston University played its first home game under the lights Tuesday night and had a lot of pressure on them to continue their unbeaten streak in front of the home crowd. After winning four road games to start the season and a surprising comeback in Annapolis to undo the Middies (poll ranked 17/18) with a tying goal minute thirty to go and winning goal advancing the ball from their own end with 13 seconds to go and Junior Jack Wilson scoring with 1.5 seconds left.
Two BU Terriers received weekly recognition from the Patriot League for their performance at Navy. Senior Greg Wozniak 
and named Defensive Player of the Week and Senior Christian Carson-Banister earned Goalkeeper of the Week accolades.
BU and Bryant met for the first time Tuesday night and excitement was high for the opening face-off. The Bryant Bulldogs got the ball and were surprised when BU Terrier Dearth caused a turnover, scooped up the ball, scampered to the Bryant goal and scored making it 1-0 in the first two minutes of play. Another turnover after getting the face-off gave the Terriers another offensive possession and a twisting move by Terrier Wilson scored from the center making it 2-0 right off the start. Tucker James, the offensive threat from the Bulldogs tried to change the momentum with his speed around the crease but Carson-Banister 
started his first of eight saves in the first twelve minutes of play. BU continued its offensive possessions with Hilburn scoring twice making it 4-0 BU with six minutes to go in the first period. Good defense by both teams ended the flurry of the first quarter.
Bryant who got seven of ten face-offs in the first quarter continued domination of the X and Ziegler around the crease got the Bulldogs on the board within the first five minutes of the second quarter. BU came back with a Chad Bell under hand flip to Farris for a 5-1 lead. Bryant leading scorer James finally got on the board with a man up and highlight reel hard bar rebound and quickly stuffed it in the back of the goal. What? Quick hands, unbelievable leaving the score 5-2 with 4:17 left until the half. BU played a ball controlling final possession of the half giving Wilson two looks over the center and the second one slipped by to make it 6-2 at the half. With the four goal lead the crowd relaxed.
The third period was all Bryant as Red shirt freshman Buonaiuto scored his first college goal cutting the score to 6-3. The Terriers defense was playing very physical and gave the Bulldogs another man up opportunity and Kennedy made the long shot from the center to cut the lead to two. Bryant didn’t stop there and Sharp finished their outstanding quarter of play with goal to end the third 6-5.
Having to come back to beat Navy in the fourth period still fresh in the minds of the Terriers, a Cal Dearth assist to Burr goal started the fourth making it 7-5. Another steal by BU had Wilson fast breaking for the goal and scoring unassisted for a three goal lead. With an offsides call against BU, the Bulldogs scored yet another man up Cornell to Sharp for an 8-6 score. Almost immediately after that, BU Drew Lewis picked up the ground ball with his long stick and ran straight for the Bryant goal. You know what happened next and it’s always exciting to witness a long stick goal. 9-6 gave BU some breathing room but they pulled another heads up combination together and while clearing downfield Calisto saw the open net and attempted a three quarter field long shot which missed left. Hilburn picked it up and fed an attacking Wilson for the 10-6 goal. Bryant and BU alternated goals by James; Dearth; Sharp; and Schmidt to end the game 12-9.
The BU Terriers are 5-0 and 1-0 in Patriot’s League to start the season. Their strong defense causing many turnovers certainly helped in this win. The core of the team consists of 17 seniors who have played four years together and are the tightest passers with that familiarity.
Next up, the Terriers play Air Force on Saturday March 4 here in Boston and with a win certainly will move up in the rankings. How far will they go?
Kevin Clancy, Beat Writer Boston University
Lacrosse is Awesome