Game Preview: BU Men’s Lacrosse vs McGill

BU v McGill

Boston University Terriers

  • Last Year: 6-8, 8th in Patriot League
  • Conference: Patriot League
  • Head Coach: Ryan Polley
  • Leading Scorer: Cal Dearth- 42 (19G, 23A)
  • Of Note: The 3rd year program was ranked last season for the first time in team history.

McGill Redmen

  • This Year: 11-0 (22 points), 1st in Eastern Conference
  • Conference: Eastern Conference (Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association)
  • Head Coach: Tim Murdoch
  • Leading Scorer: Connor Goodwin- 42 (22G, 20A)
  • Of Note: McGill has just one regular season contest left before the Bagaataway Cup playoffs, when they face Trent University on October 24th.

Players to Watch

Boston University

Cal Dearth: The lone representative of BU on the All-Patriot League team. Dearth led the Terriers with 42 points last season, eclipsing his 26 point total as a freshman, where he led BU in points that season as well. The midfielder has the most developed offensive skill on the team and is expected to break out even further in his junior year. The Connecticut native had seven points in a game twice last season and has the potential to have big games like that.

Ryan Johnston: Johnston is highlighted because the Elora, Ontario, native has experience playing box lacrosse much like the McGill players. A junior attackman, Johnston has been a captain in each of his seasons with the Terriers. He also played for the Hill Academy, a prestigious lacrosse school, before joining BU. Johnston played in 15 games this summer with the eventual Minto Cup champion Six Nation Arrows where he picked up nine assists.

McGill

Connor Goodwin: Goodwin, a captain for the Redmen, was drafted to the professional ranks already after being signed by the Calgary Roughnecks in 2014. Goodwin’s 42 points are a career high for the McGill senior, eclipsing his 33 last season. He’s a three-time CUFLA All-Canadian and was the 2013 Bagaataway Cup MVP. He’s the most experienced player in this game for either team.

Anders Bjella: Bejella is third on the team with 17 goals. The Michigan native has been a big part of the last two undefeated seasons for McGill but has broke out this season with his 17 goals in eight games, already five more goals in one less game played than last season.

Goalie Profiles

Boston University

Christian Carson-Bannister: Carson-Bannister, a junior goalkeeper, started all 12 games for the Terriers last season. He led the Patriot League with a .557 goals against average had a 6-6 overall record. As a young team, the Terriers at times have had defensive woes, but Carson-Bannister has always been able to make a lot of saves in a game to keep BU in it.

McGill

William Waesche: In his freshman season of 2013, Waesche led the CUFLA with a 3.60 goals against average. Since that year he has emerged as one of the top goalies in Canada. In 2014 he was named the Most Valuable Goalie in the eastern portion of the All-Canada Team. This season he’s posted a 6.02 goals against average and holds an 8-0 record in ten games started. He leads the CUFLA with his eight victories and also leads the league with his 718 minutes played between the pipes.

Stats of Note

Boston University

  • The Terriers were 23rd in the nation in goals per game last season despite not making the post season.
  • Last season BU had two pre season games where they faced Yale and Sacred Heart in Connecticut. They will not face an NCAA opponent in this fall ball weekend.

McGill

  • The Redmen are playing for their third straight undefeated season. After the exhibition in Boston, they’ll have one more game against 4-4 Trent.
  • McGill’s 122 goal total is tied for first place in the CUFLA overall along with the 6-2 Brock Badgers.
  • McGill’s Goodwin is one of three players in the CUFLA who have belonged to an NLL team along with Mitch De Snoo of Toronto and Thomas Hoggarth of Trent.

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