2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #30 Boston University Terriers

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019. These are not end of season rankings, as some people might think.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series yesterday with Jacksonville.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#30 Boston University Terriers

Conference: Patriot League
2018 Record: 8-9 (3-5 in Patriot League play)
Postseason: Defeated Bucknell in Patriot League quarterfinals, lost to Loyola in Patriot League semifinals
Head coach: Ryan Polley (5th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: James Burr (45)
Assists: Chris Gray (40)
Points: Chris Gray (71)
Faceoffs: Sean Christman (130-of-245; 53.1%)
Ground balls: Sean Christman (63)
Caused turnovers: Isaac Lipton (20)
Goals against average: Joe McSorley (11.14 GAA)
Save percentage: Joe McSorley (52%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Jack Wilson (30 Gs, 17 As, 32 GBs), D Isaac Lipton (52 GBs, 20 CTs), M Hayden Ruiz (11 Gs, 19 As, 12 GBs), M/A Ryan Hilburn (14 Gs, 16 GBs), SSDM Brian Badgett (27 GBs, 6 CTs, 2 Gs, 2 As), FOGO Joe Stucky (41.9% faceoff draws, 17 GBs)
Senior scoring departing: 98 of 287 points (34.1%)
Senior starts lost: 61 of 170 (35.9%)

Season Summary

After a senior-heavy team helped the Terriers reach new heights in 2017, BU had some expectations to achieve in their fifth year as a Division I program. And surprisingly, they did.

BU started things off with an overtime win over Providence before losing on the road to last year’s national runner-up Ohio State. After a win over Dartmouth, the Terriers began Patriot League play with a two-goal loss to Navy. They did add two straight wins over Bryant (in overtime) and Air Force before ramping up conference play.

But that’s when BU went through some tough times. They suffered consecutive 16-9 losses at the hands of Colgate and Bucknell and choked an 18-12 lead with 7:06 left in their game against Harvard and lost in overtime to the Crimson, who went on a 7-0 run. BU was on the bubble for reaching the Patriot League tournament after alternating wins and losses against Lafayette, Lehigh, Army West Point, and Loyola. Just like in 2016, the Terriers needed a win over rival Holy Cross to make it to the conference tournament. But unlike two years ago, BU went home with a 9-4 win and another date with Bucknell.

Down by five with 6:04 left in the third quarter, the Terriers went on a six-goal run to upset a potential NCAA Tournament team in the Bison by a goal. However, BU would fall to Loyola in the conference semifinals and also lose to Duke in their regular season finale.

The offense saw a star being born in attackman Chris Gray, who led the team with 40 assists and 71 points. He registered at least five points in eight matchups during the season, including a 10 point performance against Harvard and a nine point outing against Bucknell in the Patriot League tournament. He was accompanied by senior Jack Wilson and junior James Burr. Senior Ryan Hilburn began the season at attack before Gray bumped him to the midfield where he finished with 14 goals in his final collegiate year. Hayden Ruiz, junior Brendan Homire, and sophomore John MacLean also got notable time as first line middies. Senior Greg Farris and freshman Michael Doxie got some time as midfielders as well. Another freshman, Tommy Nook, looked like a possible contributor before his season ended back in February.

On the other side of the ball, senior Isaac Lipton led a close unit that also featured junior Quintin Germain and freshman Malcolm Glendinning for the majority of the season. Junior Christopher Lappin also filled in when Germain was banged up. LSM Chase Levesque was also hurt for a good portion of the season, but sophomore Nicholas Elleron and juniors Gabe Anderson and Drew Lukacs filled his spot well. Freshman Michael Chiaramonte showed a ton of promise as one of BU’s top short stick defenders, joining a group that also included Brian Badgett, Connor Pearce, Andrew Volk, and Thomas Schmidt. FOGO Sean Christman went a solid 53.1% from the faceoff X, while sophomore Joe McSorley filled Christian Carson-Banister’s spot in goal pretty well.

Looking Ahead

Could BU have a future Pat Spencer in the form of Gray? He is a very balanced attackman that can finish and dish. His main finisher in Burr also returns as well as reserve Tristan Ruh. Homire, MacLean, Doxie, and Nook all return at midfield, and if last year gave us some kind of hint, maybe Nook becomes a first-line middie.

The defense took a hit with not only Lipton graduating, but also the departure of Glendinning to Penn State. But Germain and Lappin remain, along with Levesque, Chiaramonte, and the majority of the LSMs and SSDMs. BU also gets some help as former All-MAAC Second Team choice Reece Eddy comes in from Canisius. He set a program-record 28 caused turnovers a year ago. Who knows where he would play on defense. McSorley and Christman also return.

Here’s who the Terriers will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.