Boston College will play the USC Trojans at home in the quarterfinals.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 14 Boston College women's lacrosse team used a balanced effort — stifling defense and explosive offensive — to top host and ninth-ranked Syracuse (21-10) in the NCAA tournament second round and earn a berth in the quarterfinals for the second time in program history.
Boston College (15-6) will host Southern California in the NCAA quarterfinals on Saturday at the Newton Campus Fields. Sunday's win marked the Eagles' first postseason victory – ACC or NCAA – over Syracuse (15-7) in program history, and was just the team's third-ever win over the Orange.
After trailing 3-2 10 minutes into the first half, the Eagles reeled off a 9-2 run over the next 12:32 to take a 11-5 lead with 7:30 to play in the half. Taking a 12-7 lead into the second half, BC tallied three straight goals to move to 15-7 before Syracuse potted a pair in just over four minutes.
Ahead 15-9, the Eagles kept the Orange off the board for 13 minutes and moved the advantage to 20-9 with 6:50 to play. The programs traded goals in the final five minutes and as the clock expired, BC celebrated the win and its ticket to the Elite Eight.
Five @BCwlax Eagles score hat tricks in #NCAALax Second Round victory over No. 6 Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/0DZx6zVaSu
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAA_Lax) May 14, 2017
Kayla O'Connor (three goals, four assists) and Sam Apuzzo (five goals, two assists) led all players with seven points apiece, while Kenzie Kent (three goals, three assists) and Kate Weeks (four goals, two assists) added six points each.
Lauren Daly came in for the second half in net and stopped eight shots to preserve the lead established by Zoe Ochoa (five saves) in the first half.
TURNING POINT
Down 3-2 with 20:00 left in the first, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run over the next 12 and a half minutes to take a 11-5 lead. The Eagles then opened the second half with three straight goals to extend the lead further.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down 3-2 with 20:00 left in the first, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run over the next 12 and a half minutes to take a 11-5 lead at 7:30.
- Keyed by six points (three goals, three assists) from Kayla O'Connor in that spurt, BC used the lead to take a 12-7 advantage into the halftime break.
- The Eagles scored the first three goals of the second half and pushed the lead to 15-7.
- Syracuse responded with a pair of their own to pull within six at 15-9 with 18:03 to play
That's a happy locker room, right @acacia_walker?!? pic.twitter.com/NcIBCtMgLK
— BC Women's Lacrosse (@BCwlax) May 14, 2017
- Boston College's defense held the Orange scoreless for the next 13:00 – and the offense rattled off a 5-0 run
