A change of scenery was in order for Boston University men’s lacrosse, and the Terriers certainly delivered when they got it. Led by freshman attacker Vince D’Alto and senior goalie Joe McSorley, BU defeated UMass Lowell 15-3 on the road to earn their first win of the season.
Only four minutes into the first period, D’Alto set up the Terriers’ first goal with an assist to sophomore attacker Timmy Ley. Senior midfielder Jared Nugent scored two more goals in the period and freshman attacker Thomas Niedringhaus added one of his own.
D’Alto and freshman attacker Louis Perfetto finally got on the board in the second with a goal apiece. Sophomore midfielder Jake Cates and freshman midfielder Michael Gottleib netted their first goals of the season and Niedringhaus tacked on a second goal.
The Terriers carried their first-half momentum into the third quarter. D’Alto scored two more goals and Niedringhaus scored his third.
Head Coach Ryan Polley brought in a new cast of characters for the fourth period. Sophomore attacker Phil Wies, who received minimal playing time in the Terriers’ first two games, scored BU’s lone fourth-quarter goal. Junior backup faceoff specialist Kevin Snyder won the Terriers’ final matchup at the X.
McSorley made just three saves in the final period, but he made his presence known all afternoon with 17 saves and only five goals allowed. Although he was not chosen as the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week this week, he has a case to earn that title on Monday for the second time in three weeks.
Outside the crease, D’Alto ended with three goals and two assists. Niedringhaus and Perfetto recorded three points each.
Also impressive was how well BU kept the ball under control. After committing 58 turnovers in their first two games against Providence and Ohio State, the Terriers turned the ball over only 12 times on Saturday.
The Terriers firmly won the ground ball battle as well with 38 ground balls compared to UMass Lowell’s 29. Senior long stick midfielders Reece Eddy, who was named a Patriot League Player of the Week this week, and Chase Levesque each scooped up four. Perfetto and freshman defender Collin Loughead picked up three each.
BU’s long road trip continues on Tuesday when the Terriers travel to Smithfield, RI to face Bryant. The Bulldogs are the owners of a 0-2 record that includes a 16-9 loss to Providence just as ugly as the Terriers’ own defeat against the same squad.
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