One Last Catch
Lacrosse women fall to Penn in NCAA quarterfinal
PHILADELPHIA – Despite a 13-save performance from sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Klein (Forest Hill, Md.), the No. 6/7 Boston University lacrosse team had its season come to an end with an 8-5 loss to top-ranked Penn in the NCAA quarterfinal round on Saturday afternoon at Vidas Field. Senior co-captain Lauren Morton (Glenside, Pa.) and junior Sarah Dalton (Cornwall, Vt.) each scored two goals for the Terriers, who finish the year with a record of 18-3.
Penn was bolstered by a commanding 11-4 advantage on the draw, including a stretch of 39 minutes of play during which the Terriers were held without a draw control. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Waxman was impressive for the Quakers, making stops on nine of BU’s 14 shots on goal.
BU, the tournament’s No. 7 seed, had its school-record 15-game win streak snapped, while the second-seeded Quakers improve to 16-1 and advance to Friday’s semifinal against Duke.
Sophomore Xan Weitzel (Moorestown, N.J.) recorded a goal and an assist for the Terriers, while junior Kelly Munroe (Westwood, Mass.) was outstanding on the defensive end, posting game highs in both caused turnovers (5) and ground balls (4).
Senior Rachel Manson and sophomore Emma Spiro each had two goals for the Quakers. Senior Allison Ambrozy tallied a game-high two assists for Penn.
Morton gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead when she converted from just outside the crease off a pass from sophomore McKinley Curro (Amherst, N.H.) just over five minutes into the game. BU claimed the ensuing draw, but quickly turned it over, setting up a breakaway that resulted in a goal by Manson.
BU regained the lead just under three minutes later when Weitzel snuck the ball past Waxman off an assist from freshman Rachel Collins (Winchester, Mass.). The 2-1 edge would be the Terriers’ final lead of the day, however, as the Quakers embarked on a decisive 7-1 run that took up 38 minutes.
Down 4-2 at the half, the Terriers once again looked to Morton and the senior did not disappoint, stuffing in the first goal of the second half on an assist from sophomore Traci Landy (Seaford, N.Y.) at 25:43. That would be the closest BU would get, as Penn used two goals from Spiro to kick off a four-goal run and take what would be its largest lead at 8-3.
Dalton fueled a late BU rally, scoring her 70th and 71st goals of the year to tie and then break the program’s single-season record set by Jenny Hauser in 2006. However, the Quakers established possession late and ran out the clock to seal the victory.
Penn outshot BU, 30-21, and forced six failed clears for the Terriers, who held a slim 18-17 edge in ground balls. Each team committed 15 turnovers.
The result marked the end of the standout careers of Morton and Molly Collins (Winchester, Mass.), as the senior duo posted a 63-16 record over the last four years to set a program record for wins by a class.
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