Next Stop: Gillette Stadium for the Final Four

NEWTON, Mass. – Behind nine points from senior Kate Weeks and eight from junior Kenzie Kent, the No. 14 Boston College women's lacrosse team advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament with a 20-14 victory over No. 7 Southern California on Saturday at the Newton Campus Fields.

In the Eagles' second-ever Elite Eight contest, Weeks posted a career-high six assists to go with her three goals, while Kent tallied a career-best six goals to help lead BC to Gillette Stadium and the NCAA Final Four, where they'll meet Navy on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The unranked Mids topped host and third-ranked North Carolina, 16-14, on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Trojans entered the game with the nation's second-best defense, allowing just 7.52 goals per game. However, by halftime, the Eagles had already notched 10 en route to a third-straight 20-goal game in the NCAA Tournament. BC's 20 goals were the most ever allowed by USC in its program history.

Boston College (16-6) kept USC (18-4) off the board for the game's first 11:34 and built a 3-0 lead before Drew Jackson got the Trojans on the scoreboard. BC then built 7-2, 8-3 and 9-4 leads before the teams traded goals in the final seven seconds of the half for the 10-5 Boston College edge at the whistle.

In the second half, Southern California cut the BC lead to three goals twice – at 10-7 and 15-12 – but Kaileen Hart, Kent (2), Weeks and Sam Apuzzo helped the Eagles out-score USC 5-2 in the final 14:10 of the game punch their tickets to Foxborough.

In addition to Kent's six goals and Week's hat trick, Hart and Kayla O'Connor also added three goals apiece.

No. 14 Boston College 20, No. 7 Southern California 14
Newton Campus Fields, Newton, Mass.
May 20, 2017

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Today's win was the program's record 16th victory of the season, passing the previous record mark of 15 (2014, 2015)
Boston College is now 5-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and is 1-1 in the Quarterfinal round
This is BC's first-ever win in the Elite Eight and the team has now booked its first visit to the Final Four
This was Boston College's second trip to the NCAA Elite Eight and the first time the Eagles hosted at the Newton Campus Field
Kenzie Kent set a career best in goals with six, passing her previous mark of five which she last netted on April 22 against Notre Dame
Kate Weeks set a career high with six assists, tripling her prior best … her previous high was two, which she recorded five time previously, including the Eagles' first- and second-round NCAA games last weekend
The Eagles' 20 goals were the most goals allowed by USC not only this season, but also in its program history … the Trojan's entered the game with the nation's second-best scoring defense, allowing 7.52 goals per game with a high of 15 surrendered in a loss at then-No. 4 Florida (15-10) on Feb. 24
The Eagles held USC leading scorer Michaela Michael to two points (one goal, one assist) … she entered the game with 77 goals and 97 points, totals which ranked first and ninth, respectively, in the NCAA this season

TURNING POINT
After BC held a 10-5 lead at the half, USC cut the advantage to three for the second time at 15-12 with 15:10 remaining after Gabby McMahon scored back-to-back goals. The Eagles called timeout, and Kaileen Hart scored quickly off the BC draw win to regain a four-goal advantage at 14:10. Boston College then out-scored the Trojans 5-2 to close out the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

BC built a 3-0 lead in the game's first 7:27 while holding USC off the board for the first 11:34 of the game, and then built the lead to five at 7-2, 8-3 and 9-4 before the teams traded goals in the final seven seconds of the half for the 10-5 line at the break
Kate Weeks factored in the first four goals of the game, before Kaileen Hart had a hand in four of BC's next five goals
Emma Schurr potted Laura Frankenfield's pass past USC and U.S. National Team goaltender Gussie Johns as time expired in the first to send the Eagles into the intermission up by five
USC scored the first two goals coming out for the second half, but BC netted three to push the lead to six at 13-7 with 24:01 left
Cynthia Del Core potted a pair to cut the BC lead to four at 13-9 with 21:11 remaining, Kenzie Kent and Mary Kate O'Neill goals straddled a Kerrigan Miller strike as BC led 15-10 with 19:16 to go
Trojan attack Gabby McMahon scored on consecutive trips into the Eagles' end and cut the BC lead to 15-12 with 15:10 left, but Hart and Kent tallied back-to-back goals to regain a five-goal advantage with 11:56 to play
Kerrigan Miller's goal with 10:26 brought USC back within four, but Kent and Weeks scored around Michaela Michael's lone goal of the game and Sam Apuzzo capped the scoring with 1:52 left to send BC to the Final Four for the first time.

TEAM LEADERS

Boston College

Points: Kate Weeks (9)
Goals: Kenzie Kent (6)
Assists: Kate Weeks (6)
Draw Controls: Elizabeth Miller, Brooke Troy (3)
Ground Balls: Elizabeth Miller (3)
Saves: Lauren Daly (6)

Southern California

Points: Drew Jackson, Kylie Drexel, Cynthia Del Core (4)
Goals: Drew Jackson, Cynthia Del Core (3)
Assists: Kyle Drexel (3)
Draw Controls: Michaela Michael, Kerrigan Miller (4)
Ground Balls: Drew Jackson, Kerrigan Miller (5)
Saves: Gussie Johns (8)

UP NEXT
Boston College will face Navy (18-4) in the NCAA national semifinal on Friday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3. Tickets are available at ncaa.com.

Next Event

Team Stats

Kenzie Kent

Kaileen Hart

Kayla O'Connor

Kate Weeks

Players Mentioned

Sam Apuzzo

Lauren Daly

Laura Frankenfield

Kaileen Hart

Kenzie Kent

Elizabeth Miller

Kayla O'Connor

Mary Kate O'Neill

Emma Schurr

Brooke Troy

Kate Weeks