Boston College
Syracuse
Top-10 Matchup Kicks Off ACC Play
September 07, 2017 | Field Hockey
BC hosts the Orange and Friars in home stand
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The eighth-ranked Boston College field hockey team opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday at the Newton Campus Field Hockey Complex with a 5 p.m. contest against fifth-ranked Syracuse (5-0).
The Eagles (4-0) will also host Providence (3-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. after returning for three straight games on the road.
BC started the season on a high note, winning its first four games, beating three ranked opponents and taking two in double overtime. It is the first time the Eagles have won their first four games to start the year since 2013. The win over No. 6 Maryland marked the Eagles' first top-10 victory of the 2017 season and the seventh overall under head coach Kelly Doton.
The Eagles started the season ranked 12th in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll, but quickly moved up after a 4-0 start to the No. 8 spot. BC also received one first-place vote. They have played three ranked teams so far - No. 18 Albany, No. 14 Northwestern and No. 6 Maryland - and have defeated all three with two wins against teams ranked higher.
Through the first four games, the scoring has been spread out between nine different Eagles. Freshman Jaime Natale leads the way with three goals while classmate Caroline McGovern and junior Lucy Lytle each notched two. The three have combined for the four game-winners with McGovern leading the way with two. Three different BC players have logged two assists each - seniors Alesandra Miller and Chelcie Mendonca and junior Ymke Rose Gote. In all, 13 of the Eagles' 18 student-athletes who have logged game minutes have recorded at least one point this season.
Sophomore Sarah Dwyer is the only goalie on the BC roster in 2017 and, after logging just over six minutes in her freshman campaign, she has made an impact through her first four collegiate starts. She notched her first career save in the season opener against Quinnipiac before going on to recording a career-high six saves in the double overtime win against Northwestern in the ACC/Big Ten Cup. Her 1.10 goals-against average is fifth in the league while her .706 save percentage is fourth. Dwyer was named BC's female Eagle of the Week after her play in the ACC/Big Ten Cup.
The Eagles are 10-22 all-time against the Orange with a 7-9 record at home. They are 3-7 in ACC regular-season play with a 1-1 record in overtime. Syracuse has won the last three contests, including the 2014 ACC Tournament matchup. The Eagles last won the 2014 regular-season tilt, 3-2 in overtime.
Meanwhile, BC is 21-13 in the all-time series against Providence. The Eagles have won the last eight meetings and 15 of the last 17. Last year, Lytle scored two goals, including the game-winner in double overtime, in the 2-1 victory. BC is 10-6 at home against the Friars.
Both games will be steamed on the ACC Network Extra and the WatchESPN app.
