Ringing the Bell for Lacrosse Seniors

For much of Boston College's Class of 2018, this weekend represents the culmination of a four-year journey. Monday represents a capstone, a moment when the seniors turn their tassels and transition from students to alumni.

The Boston College lacrosse team doesn't see it that way, however. The Eagles will play in the NCAA Quarterfinals against Stony Brook two days before graduation, and for the senior members of the team, the year isn't quite ready to end.

"I know I worked really hard (during every offseason)," said Carly Bell with a little laugh. "I haven't thought about the end yet, but I know it'll be nice to not have the offseason training packet come in. But at the same time, we aren't done yet."

Bell is a member of a senior class that has rewritten the record book. As the winningest class in lacrosse program history, the Class of 2018 has gone to a Final Four and played for a national championship. It won the ACC regular season championship this year, all while finishing off a perfect record. It's seemingly done it all, with one notable exception - finishing the year with a trophy on its mantle as the best in the land.

As one of those seniors, Bell is the anchor of a vastly-improved defense. She stands as one of the most dependable Eagles with a career built by longevity and flexibility. She started 11 games during her freshman season and hasn't missed a game since. She started all 19 games during the 2016 season, then started 23 of 24 games with an appearance in every contest last year. This season, she's started all 21 games, a number that will jump to 22 this weekend when the Eagles host the Seawolves.

"I had to find a role over four years," Bell said. "So I get to lean on my experience (this year). I try to be a vocal leader on the field, so you can really hear me on the field, even if you're on the sideline. My skills (on the field) come from that because I understand that a lot of what we see in games is something that I've seen before. That experience is really beneficial, and I try to send that to the younger (teammates)."

It's an evolving role based on the needs of the team. Playing one style as a freshman didn't dictate what would happen as a senior, and it's allowed her to compete as a complete-style of player.

"I can read situations well, and I try to have an off-the-ball presence," she said. "I really try to focus on footwork and ball pressure. I love taking the pressure of a 1-vs-1 matchup; if I can get the angles right and do the most to stop my player, I can support the defense after the ball moves.

"I've been really lucky to see the field for four years," she continued. "I played as a freshman and sophomore and it helped me feel the confidence to push physically (as a junior and senior). I might've been complacent early on, and I've pushed now to take risks and run more. That pressure was something I had when I was younger. It's a confidence from the team and coaches to push."

The result has been a breakout as an absolute force in back. She has 16 turnovers caused with 23 ground balls for a defense entering this weekend ranked No. 7 in the nation.

"We always have a defensive game plan," she said. "I try to give everyone different tips to protect against slides, or I'll rally the team after a goal and refocus for the next play. I like to be organizational and keep the energy and vibe going, and I hope that can make be the backbone for the (unit)."

That perspective helped BC to an undefeated regular season and No. 4 overall seed in the national tournament. It earned the Eagles a bye to await the winner of a Syracuse-Princeton matchup won by the Tigers. Last Sunday, after scouting and watching Princeton from the stands, the defense stood tall in a six-goal victory.

"It's so different sitting and watching," Bell said. "Syracuse played a zone (defense), and we play man-to-man, so we just watched for tendencies. We had done film work, so I was able to watch and think about how I would react (in situations). We watched and implemented a strategy and it worked out well. We shut off key players and (goaltender Lauren Daly) had some huge saves.

"It was really exciting to play Princeton," she continued. "It had been two weeks since our last game, and we had focused on ourselves. It sparked an energy to see a team for the very first time. It was fun for a new matchup. The excitement helped us bring that energy."

The Eagles now head into an NCAA Quarterfinal matchup with No. 5 Stony Brook in Newton on Saturday. The Seawolves are BC's doppelganger, having gone undefeated in the regular season to ascend the national rankings. After receiving a bye in the national tournament's first weekend, Stony Brook polished off an Ivy League opponent in Penn to advance to this weekend.

It's a matchup filled with storylines. A Stony Brook win advances it to a Final Four hosted on campus on Long Island. It remains the last undefeated team at 20-0, and it will enter Saturday looking to knock off an opponent ranked higher because of strength of schedule.

"This is going to be a battle," Bell said. "We got sloppy near the end of the Princeton game, and we know the margin of victory is very thin (now). We know (Stony Brook) is a strong team. We have to play a full 60 minutes and lock in with focus in practice. This is probably going to be the hardest game we play all season. We have to be up to the challenge. Every rep in practice is a game rep. Everyone is fired up."

The Eagles will host the Seawolves on Saturday at Newton Campus at 1 p.m. The game can be seen via ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app on mobile devices.

Players Mentioned

Carly Bell

Lauren Daly

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