Men’s Lacrosse: Lacrosse Magazine Says BU is Due for a Breakthrough
By: WTBU Sports
The Boston University men’s lacrosse team is poised for a better 2016 than 2015. There is almost no argument against that statement. The Terriers are up-and-comers in a weakening Patriot League.
The experts agree, apparently, as Lacrosse Magazine, the official publication of US Lacrosse, has named BU as one of their breakthrough teams for the 2016 NCAA season.
Lax Mag says that the Terriers looked like they could have been a breakout team in 2015. BU was ranked at a point last season, an incredible feat for a second-year program.
As a third year varsity team, this year seems more realistic fore a breakthrough push. Lacrosse Magazine writers Corey McLaughlin, Sean Burns, Jac Coyne, and Megan Schneider, along with select NCAA coaches, contributed to the opinions.
Why exactly could the Terriers be a breakout club? We’ve been over the answers before; (insert link). their offense, which ranked 23rd in the nation, along with retaining much of their young talent.
Not to mention the weakening conference in which BU is a part of, the Patriot League. Gone to the pro ranks are former Lehigh Mountain Hawks Patrick Corbett, Dan Taylor, Nolan Apers, and Matt Poillon. Leaving Colgate behind is their second leading scorer Ryan Walsh. Bucknell loses their leading scorer David Dickson, while Loyola lets go of Nikko Pontrello and Pat Frazier, while Army loses their star in John Glessener.
With the power of the Patriot League gone, that gap exists for BU players to fill. Lax Magazine agrees, stating that the Terriers could make a run at winning their conference which has become one of the toughest in all of lacrosse.
The Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Glessener, is gone. So is the goalkeeper of the year, former Army goalie Sam Somers. Just seven players returning from the All-Patriot League Team are returning in 2016. Midfielder Cal Dearth was one of those players, and the only BU representative. Faceoff specialist Sam Talkow made an appearance on the second team and is the favorite to compete for the first team this season with Navy FOGO Brady Dove.
Both freshmen from last season who scored 40 points, Jack Wilson and Ryan Hilburn, should also compete to be first-teamers this season. Sophomores Adam Schaal and Pat Myers should also make some noise.
The experts are saying it now; BU has a chance to get to the Patriot League tournament and win some games. Now they just have to get on the field and prove their worth.