No. 2 Boston College lacrosse (7-0) heads West to take on No. 14 Southern California (2-2) on Wednesday. After finishing second in the nation last season, BC has established itself as one of the most dominant programs in college lacrosse. The Eagles’ high-powered offense, which is currently logging around 18 goals per game this season—double USC’s scoring total—is behind it all. That said, the Trojans are no pushover either. Not only does USC rank inside the the top 15, but it also gave No. 1 Stony Brook a run for its money. Besides, there’s no doubt the Trojans will be seeking vengeance after the Eagles knocked them out of the Elite Eight last season.
Who is BC playing?
Southern California
When is BC playing?
Wednesday, March 7, 6 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
McAlister Field, Los Angeles, Calif.
How to Watch:
The game will be streamed live on the PAC-12 Plus channel.
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) The Eagles are converting 53 percent of their shots this season.
2) BC recorded a season-high 12 assists against Navy last week.
3) Junior attacker Sam Apuzzo leads both the team and the country with 47 points on the year.
USC:
1) USC’s shots on goal percentage is hovering around the 65-percent mark.
2) The Trojans recorded a season-high 18 points against top-ranked Stony Brook.
3) Freshman midfielder Kelsey Huff leads the team with nine goals in 2018.
Last Meeting:
USC will be vying to avenge last season’s Elite Eight loss to BC. Despite sitting seven places behind the Trojans in the Division I rankings, the Eagles, led by Kate Weeks and Kenzie Kent, who teamed up for a combined 17 points, pulled off the upset. In what marked BC’s second-ever Elite Eight appearance, head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein’s team managed to overpower the Trojans’ much lauded defense—the second-best unit in the country. When all was said and done, USC conceded 20 goals for the first time in the school history.
BC wins if…
Its offense stays hot. Goals have not been hard to come by for the Eagles so far this year, but the Trojans managed to hold Stony Brook to under 15 in their first game of the season. As such, Apuzzo and the rest will need to make sure their top-10 offense continues to fire on all cylinders.
BC loses if…
Its offense goes through a dry spell. Last time out against Binghamton, the Eagles started the second half slowly, failing to score for the first 14 minutes as they were shutout by a reinvigorated Bearcats defense. Against a unit like USC’s, a drought could very well cost BC, especially because the Trojans are more than capable on the offensive side of the field.
