No. 3 Boston College lacrosse came into its 2026 season opener on Friday night wondering how it would replace its four top scorers from last year’s squad. After a 20–12 loss to No. 2 Northwestern, BC is still left with that question—and more.
The Eagles (0–1) fell behind early and never caught up as the Wildcats (1–0) took the rematch of last year’s NCAA semifinal. Molly Driscoll led the way for the Eagles with two goals and two assists, while Madison Taylor and Aditi Foster combined for nine Northwestern goals on the other end.
Penalties were a constant issue for BC. The Eagles received 10 cards throughout the game, and Northwestern was able to capitalize, scoring six man-up goals.
“We can’t expect to beat a team like that with 10 cards,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “Having to defend Northwestern man-up 10 times, it’s impossible … we just have to limit our fouls.”
Northwestern took control of the game early, scoring its first goal 2:22 into the first quarter. Less than four minutes later, Taylor Lapointe scored the Wildcats’ first man-up goal to make it 3–0 Northwestern.
Kelly Blake and Brooke McCloy both scored to bring BC within one, but four consecutive goals from the Northwestern attack killed the Eagles’ momentum and brought the score to 7–2 at the end of the first.
The two teams were nearly even in shots on goal in the first, with Northwestern leading 9–8, but seven saves from Jenika Cuocco kept BC from turning those into goals. BC goaltender Shea Dolce, meanwhile, only managed to save two of Northwestern’s looks.
The Eagles’ offense seemed to finally begin clicking in the second. After an Avery Hudson goal 4:35 into the period brought the score to 7–3, North Carolina transfer Marissa White took over. After having a goal overturned for a dangerous follow-through, White scored two goals in a 39-second span to make the score 7–5.
“I thought [White] was great,” Walker-Weinstein said. “I think she’s playing to her potential, and we’re gonna need more out of her.”
Hanna Davis followed with a goal 44 seconds later to cut the margin to one, but a Northwestern goal with 1:17 left in the half brought the score back to 8–6, where it would remain headed into the break.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, any fire they brought into halftime was quickly doused by Northwestern’s attack. The Wildcats scored five goals in the first 7:36 of the third period, extending their lead to 13–7.
“We have to learn to build momentum and stop momentum, and you know, we’ll get there,” Walker-Weinstein said.
Giulia Colarusso scored her second goal of the third to stop the bleeding, but a pair of goals from Lapointe and Maddie Epke stretched the lead to 15–8 to end the third. Taylor continued that spurt, starting the fourth with her fourth goal of the game to put Northwestern up 16–8.
Taylor, who broke the NCAA single-season scoring record last season, picked up where she left off, leading all scorers with five goals and nine points.
BC’s primary highlight of the second half came from Dolce, who recorded her 500th save. But in an uncharacteristic performance from the senior netminder, Dolce recorded just a .280 save percentage.
BC mustered up a small run in the final quarter, including two goals from Driscoll, but it was not enough to make a dent in the Wildcat lead as the game came to a close 20–12.
“We expect to win,” Walker-Weinstein said. “But we’re also not just gonna sulk. We just got to get to work.”
