Boston College Athletics
Lax Looking To Turn It Up Starting With Home Opener
February 13, 2017 | Lacrosse, #ForBoston Files
Fresh off a disappointing ACC defeat, Eagles to turn corner against BU on Wednesday.
When it comes to achieving greatness, Boston College lacrosse head coach Acacia Walker knows a thing or two. A participant in 13 of the last 14 NCAA Tournaments, she's been to the sport's biggest stage as a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate while playing at Maryland. An assistant coach at Northwestern, she won three national championships. From her playing career on the U.S. Senior National Team to her associate head coaching job at Massachusetts, she's been involved in every facet of the game at virtually every level.
As a coach at Boston College, it's been about finding that greatness. What was once the first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011 became national quarterfinalists in 2014 and a top three-ranked program in 2015. After making the tournament again last season, BC has risen to become one of the premier establishments in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.
But there's unfinished business, even as the team's opened up 2-1 on the season. After defeating Holy Cross, 19-8, and 15th-ranked Massachusetts, 18-10, in their first two games, the Eagles dropped their conference opener to Syracuse, 18-8, at the Carrier Dome. As they prepare for their first home game against Boston University on Wednesday, it's time to refocus and recharge.
"We were executing really well (in the first two games)," Walker said. "The girls were excited to start the season, they were healthy, and they were ready to play. We executed our concepts and the game plan well. We didn't have much film even into the UMass game, so we focused all on our own game and came out fired up ready to play our game. But we had a complete breakdown on Saturday (against Syracuse)."
For the Eagles, that means getting back to what works.
"We need to continue to compete for ground balls and win 50-50 battles," Walker said. "We need to win the 1-v-1 offense and 1-v-1 defense battles, and we need to be shooting well, capitalizing on all the opportunities when things are going well."
It's something they'll attempt to do on Wednesday when they finally return home to take on Boston University. BC hasn't lost a home opener since dropping one to Maryland in 2008 in a game played at Bentley College and the Eagles haven't lost a home opener on campus since losing a one-goal game to Notre Dame in 2003. And with just two home games in their first 10 games, it places an added emphasis on holding serve at home.
"It's huge to be at home," Walker said. "We need to wrap our heads around the emotion (of coming home), but playing at home gives us a good chance to focus back on ourselves. That it's a game against Boston University is also great since I know the girls will be fired up to play that game. We know we're going to have to work hard to get the win."
A home field advantage is especially more unique and distinct for the lacrosse program. Like the soccer teams, lacrosse plays at home on Newton Campus. Nestled behind the law school and close to BC's freshmen dorms, it's a smaller, more intimate home field advantage that is something only those teams know and experience.
"We absolutely love playing in Newton," Walker said. "It's the type of field where a small crowd feels big, and a big crowd feels huge. A couple of years ago, we had the chance to play at Alumni Stadium and play on the football field, and after it was done, I remember asking the players if this was something they would want to do more of. The team told me that they prefer Newton. So we hope to draw a good crowd to come out and support them because it's definitely a great place to play."
Statistically, they're in good shape. Senior Kate Weeks came flying out of the gate with eight goals against UMass and already has 14 on the season. She's joined atop the score sheet by fellow senior attack Tess Chandler and sophomore midfielder Sam Apuzzo; they've combined for 13 goals and 20 assists.
They've controlled 63 ground balls on the season and caused 35 turnovers while controlling the majority of draws. They've also been successful on all but nine clears defensively, illustrating that when they're on their game, they're one of the toughest teams to penetrate. But in order to get where they want to be, they know that good might not be good enough. The situation calls for them to be great.
"We have to be better still," Walker said. "We know we won't compete in the ACC if we play like we did on Saturday in other games. We know we have some time to get it better, but if we're not careful, it'll be too late. And that's something that I reflect on as a coach too. I know that for the seniors, I care about getting them where they want to be and to turn it up. We will make our changes and get better so we're ready to go when it's time again to compete with the ACC."
The Eagles take on the Terriers on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Newton Campus Lacrosse and Soccer Field. Admission is free.
As a coach at Boston College, it's been about finding that greatness. What was once the first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011 became national quarterfinalists in 2014 and a top three-ranked program in 2015. After making the tournament again last season, BC has risen to become one of the premier establishments in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.
But there's unfinished business, even as the team's opened up 2-1 on the season. After defeating Holy Cross, 19-8, and 15th-ranked Massachusetts, 18-10, in their first two games, the Eagles dropped their conference opener to Syracuse, 18-8, at the Carrier Dome. As they prepare for their first home game against Boston University on Wednesday, it's time to refocus and recharge.
"We were executing really well (in the first two games)," Walker said. "The girls were excited to start the season, they were healthy, and they were ready to play. We executed our concepts and the game plan well. We didn't have much film even into the UMass game, so we focused all on our own game and came out fired up ready to play our game. But we had a complete breakdown on Saturday (against Syracuse)."
For the Eagles, that means getting back to what works.
"We need to continue to compete for ground balls and win 50-50 battles," Walker said. "We need to win the 1-v-1 offense and 1-v-1 defense battles, and we need to be shooting well, capitalizing on all the opportunities when things are going well."
It's something they'll attempt to do on Wednesday when they finally return home to take on Boston University. BC hasn't lost a home opener since dropping one to Maryland in 2008 in a game played at Bentley College and the Eagles haven't lost a home opener on campus since losing a one-goal game to Notre Dame in 2003. And with just two home games in their first 10 games, it places an added emphasis on holding serve at home.
"It's huge to be at home," Walker said. "We need to wrap our heads around the emotion (of coming home), but playing at home gives us a good chance to focus back on ourselves. That it's a game against Boston University is also great since I know the girls will be fired up to play that game. We know we're going to have to work hard to get the win."
A home field advantage is especially more unique and distinct for the lacrosse program. Like the soccer teams, lacrosse plays at home on Newton Campus. Nestled behind the law school and close to BC's freshmen dorms, it's a smaller, more intimate home field advantage that is something only those teams know and experience.
"We absolutely love playing in Newton," Walker said. "It's the type of field where a small crowd feels big, and a big crowd feels huge. A couple of years ago, we had the chance to play at Alumni Stadium and play on the football field, and after it was done, I remember asking the players if this was something they would want to do more of. The team told me that they prefer Newton. So we hope to draw a good crowd to come out and support them because it's definitely a great place to play."
Statistically, they're in good shape. Senior Kate Weeks came flying out of the gate with eight goals against UMass and already has 14 on the season. She's joined atop the score sheet by fellow senior attack Tess Chandler and sophomore midfielder Sam Apuzzo; they've combined for 13 goals and 20 assists.
They've controlled 63 ground balls on the season and caused 35 turnovers while controlling the majority of draws. They've also been successful on all but nine clears defensively, illustrating that when they're on their game, they're one of the toughest teams to penetrate. But in order to get where they want to be, they know that good might not be good enough. The situation calls for them to be great.
"We have to be better still," Walker said. "We know we won't compete in the ACC if we play like we did on Saturday in other games. We know we have some time to get it better, but if we're not careful, it'll be too late. And that's something that I reflect on as a coach too. I know that for the seniors, I care about getting them where they want to be and to turn it up. We will make our changes and get better so we're ready to go when it's time again to compete with the ACC."
The Eagles take on the Terriers on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Newton Campus Lacrosse and Soccer Field. Admission is free.
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