BC Hosts No. 3 Syracuse For Saturday Matinee

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College (5-3, 0-2 ACC) seeks its first conference win of the season when it hosts the nation's number three team, Syracuse, this weekend at the Newton Campus Lacrosse Field (Saturday, 1 pm). This is the Eagles third conference game of the season, and the first at home, after they traveled to South Bend, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky for matchups with Notre Dame (L, 14-4) and the University of Louisville (L, 6-7 OT).

No. 3 Syracuse (7-2, 1-0 ACC)
at No. 15 Boston College (5-3, 0-2 ACC)

GAME NOTES

The maroon and gold remain in the top-20 of both the IWLCA and Lacrosse Magazine after they split their weekend road trip in Florida, falling to No. 2 Florida, 13-5, Friday night before rebounding to defeat Stetson, 18-10, Sunday morning. The Eagles sit at 15 and 16 in those respective polls. With the addition of Massachusetts to the top-20 in the IWLCA polls this past week, there are now nine Eagles opponents in the top 20, including six ACC opponents, a testament to BC's strength of schedule. The nine opponents now listed in the top-20 are the most this season.
In the latest statistics, BC finds itself in the middle of the pack in several conference categories. They are fifth in assists per game (4.50), draw controls per game (13.38), ground balls per game (16.88) and points per game (16.50). The Eagles have the fourth lowest number of turnovers in the league (13.75) and have the fourth best scoring offense with 12 goals per game. Entering the week, Molly Erdle is third in the ACC for caused turnovers (2.25/game) while Zoe Ochoa's 8.68 goals against average is sixth best. Ochoa also sits at sixth in the conference in save percentage (.407), saves (44) and saves per game (5.50). Freshman Sam Apuzzo is seventh best amongst ACC players in draw controls per game (3.63) while Sarah Mannelly has the eighth most assists for ACC players.
On the national level, BC cracks the top-40 in scoring margin (2.50), scoring offense (12.00), turnovers per game (13.75) and points per game (16.50).
Syracuse enters the week with a 7-2 (1-0 ACC) record and most recently defeated Harvard, 16-9, in a non-conference matchup earlier this week. Entering the week, 'Cuse was ranked third in the IWLCA poll and are top-10 in the nation for assists per game (7.25), draw controls per game (15.75) and points per game (20.63). Individually, Kayla Treanor leads the nation in draw controls per game (10.86) while Halle Majorana is ninth in the nation in free position goals per game, averaging one per game.
The Eagles history with Syracuse dates back to 1998, with Syracuse owning the all-time series 13-1. Since Syracuse joined the ACC prior to the 2014 season, the Eagles have faced the Orange once in regular season play and once in the ACC Championship. 'Cuse has knocked BC out of the conference playoffs in each of the last two years, including a 14-13 double-overtime loss last season. BC's first and only win against Syracuse came last February when the Eagles upset the nation's No. 3 team, 10-9. In that game, Caroline Margolis notched a game-high four goals while Covie Stanwick, Mikaela Rix and Sarah Mannelly each added a pair.

LAST TIME OUT

After falling to Florida, the nation's second ranked team, last Friday evening, the Eagles rebounded for a dominant victory over Stetson University Sunday afternoon, 18-10. In that game, Caroline Zaffino scored her first three career goals while Taylor Walker netted her first career goal as well. Sam Apuzzo led all scorers with four goals and two assists for six points while Sarah Mannelly recorded her 150th goal in the effort.

NEXT UP

The maroon and gold will stay in Chestnut Hill in the upcoming week before they host North Carolina, currently ranked No. 4 in the IWLCA poll, next Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm.

Throughout the season, make sure to stay up to date with all the Boston College lacrosse news by searching the hashtag #BCEagles and following @BCWlax on Twitter and Instagram.

BC Hosts No. 3 Syracuse For Saturday Matinee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Apuzzo

Molly Erdle

Sarah Mannelly

Caroline Margolis

Zoe Ochoa

Mikaela Rix

Covie Stanwick

Taylor Walker

Caroline Zaffino

BC Hosts No. 3 Syracuse For Saturday Matinee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Apuzzo

Molly Erdle

Sarah Mannelly

Caroline Margolis

Zoe Ochoa

Mikaela Rix

Covie Stanwick

Taylor Walker

Caroline Zaffino

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