Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Daly's Breakout Helps Pave Eagles To Final Four
May 22, 2018 | Lacrosse, #ForBoston Files
A goalkeeper with a knack for the moment will help any team win a big game.
If there's a quintessential moment from Boston College's overtime triumph over Stony Brook last Saturday, it came on the last possession of regulation. The Seawolves had a chance to win the game after setting up their offense in the Eagle defensive zone, and the ball was in the crosse of the nation's leading scorer, Kylie Ohlmiller.
Ohlmiller was probably the most dangerous player on the field, having summoned 157 points from that stick over the course of her entire senior season. Forced from left to right across the 12-meter fan, she summoned every ounce of skill. With a defender draped on her front, Ohlmiller went behind the back with a laser beam that seemed ear-marked for the cage.
It never got there. BC goalkeeper Lauren Daly made sure of that, and even though Stony Brook had a chance in the first part of overtime, the Eagles got the next goal and advanced to the Final Four.
"Lauren's always been so solid," head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. "She works hard in really unique ways to be ready for a save. She always seems to be clutch when we need. We needed a couple of saves, and if she doesn't get it (at an earlier stage), she's right there when we absolutely needed (the big stop)."
It's one of the reasons why Boston College will take the field on Friday in a matchup against No. 2 Maryland that's the same in name only. The Eagles enter this year's field as a more complete team and will seek to dethrone the national champions by simply blocking out last year's model in favor of a step forward.
In short, this year's team is this year's team, not last year's iteration.
"It's a totally different team," Walker-Weinstein said. "(They had) a totally different path. I think it's just exciting that the girls get to go back (and) have a little bit more experience than they did last year with all this help."
A big reason for that is the emergence of the netminder Daly. Though other goalkeepers have more saves over the course of a full season, she's become arguably the most trusted member of the Eagles' surging defensive unit.
Daly's story is one of steady increase. She played 78 minutes during her freshman season, over half of which came against Virginia Tech late in the season. But she proved herself enough to earn a timeshare during her sophomore season last year, upping her time to 23 appearances for 605 minutes.
That led to this year's breakout. Daly has played every minute possible in 19 of BC's 22 games with a goals-against average of 9.26 and a save percentage of .475, developing a knack for the big save when the game calls for it most.
In the season finale against Syracuse, the Orange had possession with two minutes remaining in a tie game. Daly came up with a save against Sam Swart, then picked up the ground ball to start BC's possession that ended with the game-winning goal with under two seconds left. Against Virginia, a second half save set up a BC attacking possession that ended with a goal, kicking off a four-goal outburst that paced the Eagles to victory.
"We have saying - all eight, all in - and we use it every game (on defense)," Daly said. "I just try to be a big part of the defense and keep the unit together. That defense is all eight, all in, and that's how I try to think about it every single game."
Daly is a big part of this defense, and the defense is a big reason why this year's BC-Maryland matchup won't be the same on paper as last year.
"Boston College is a very well-rounded team, a well-coached team," Maryland head coach Cathy Reese said. "Their defense is tough and aggressive and physical. I think they're well rounded in all areas. That doesn't make it any easier for us because it's not a specific point we've got to focus on. We just need to be prepared in all areas and ready for the challenge ahead."
"A lot of people were willing to step up and be the playmaker for us this year," Walker-Weinstein said. "It's exciting (and) it's fun to watch the kids step up. Their number was called and they're prepared. They were unafraid to step up and try and help the team where they could."
BC and Maryland will take the field at Stony Brook's Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The game can be seen on ESPN3 or via the WatchESPN app on mobile devices.
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Ohlmiller was probably the most dangerous player on the field, having summoned 157 points from that stick over the course of her entire senior season. Forced from left to right across the 12-meter fan, she summoned every ounce of skill. With a defender draped on her front, Ohlmiller went behind the back with a laser beam that seemed ear-marked for the cage.
It never got there. BC goalkeeper Lauren Daly made sure of that, and even though Stony Brook had a chance in the first part of overtime, the Eagles got the next goal and advanced to the Final Four.
"Lauren's always been so solid," head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. "She works hard in really unique ways to be ready for a save. She always seems to be clutch when we need. We needed a couple of saves, and if she doesn't get it (at an earlier stage), she's right there when we absolutely needed (the big stop)."
It's one of the reasons why Boston College will take the field on Friday in a matchup against No. 2 Maryland that's the same in name only. The Eagles enter this year's field as a more complete team and will seek to dethrone the national champions by simply blocking out last year's model in favor of a step forward.
In short, this year's team is this year's team, not last year's iteration.
"It's a totally different team," Walker-Weinstein said. "(They had) a totally different path. I think it's just exciting that the girls get to go back (and) have a little bit more experience than they did last year with all this help."
A big reason for that is the emergence of the netminder Daly. Though other goalkeepers have more saves over the course of a full season, she's become arguably the most trusted member of the Eagles' surging defensive unit.
Daly's story is one of steady increase. She played 78 minutes during her freshman season, over half of which came against Virginia Tech late in the season. But she proved herself enough to earn a timeshare during her sophomore season last year, upping her time to 23 appearances for 605 minutes.
That led to this year's breakout. Daly has played every minute possible in 19 of BC's 22 games with a goals-against average of 9.26 and a save percentage of .475, developing a knack for the big save when the game calls for it most.
In the season finale against Syracuse, the Orange had possession with two minutes remaining in a tie game. Daly came up with a save against Sam Swart, then picked up the ground ball to start BC's possession that ended with the game-winning goal with under two seconds left. Against Virginia, a second half save set up a BC attacking possession that ended with a goal, kicking off a four-goal outburst that paced the Eagles to victory.
"We have saying - all eight, all in - and we use it every game (on defense)," Daly said. "I just try to be a big part of the defense and keep the unit together. That defense is all eight, all in, and that's how I try to think about it every single game."
Daly is a big part of this defense, and the defense is a big reason why this year's BC-Maryland matchup won't be the same on paper as last year.
"Boston College is a very well-rounded team, a well-coached team," Maryland head coach Cathy Reese said. "Their defense is tough and aggressive and physical. I think they're well rounded in all areas. That doesn't make it any easier for us because it's not a specific point we've got to focus on. We just need to be prepared in all areas and ready for the challenge ahead."
"A lot of people were willing to step up and be the playmaker for us this year," Walker-Weinstein said. "It's exciting (and) it's fun to watch the kids step up. Their number was called and they're prepared. They were unafraid to step up and try and help the team where they could."
BC and Maryland will take the field at Stony Brook's Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The game can be seen on ESPN3 or via the WatchESPN app on mobile devices.
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