Takeaways from the Eagles' Thrilling National Championship Rematch
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)Publisher
A swarm of young girls and boys lined the inside of Alumni Stadium more than 20 minutes after Boston College lacrosse defeated Syracuse in what served as a national championship rematch, coaching staff reunion and regular season finale.
Then they got to greet the Eagles in a scene that mirrored that of pro sports locker room tunnel.
Autographs were signed and smiles were shared after a night in which 4,507 people came together to watch a back-and-forth battle between two of the sport's powers.
Yet another spectacle in Alumni Stadium
There was something special about BC playing on the Newton Campus. Fans routinely filled out the bleachers and flooded the exterior of the field's surrounding fence.Adorned in the program's famous neon green T-shirts, families welcomed players after games outside the suburban stadium in a small but comforting parking lot.
It had its perks.
Except, the site wasn't particularly accessible for most BC students, who live either on the main campus in Chestnut Hill or in nearby apartments/houses. The facility didn't have great locker rooms, either. And the public restrooms were nothing more than a few porta-potties.
Sure, the program became BC's best-kept secret as it started making runs to the National Championship year after year.
But it was time for the school to recognize what resources a team of that caliber deserved. The program had outgrown its Newton shell.
Eventually, the athletic department began moving home games to Alumni Stadium in 2019, a season in which BC hosted the ACC Tournament.
Now, Alumni is home for the Eagles. And, in 2021, it's offered some amazing atmospheres—not just for BC, but for the sport of women's lacrosse.
Top-Five Attendance Counts for the Newton Campus Field
2,350 — vs. UNC, March 22, 2014 (14-13 loss)
2,103 — vs. UNC, April 28, 2019 (15-13 loss)
1,806 — vs. Duke, April 6, 2019 (20-12 win)
1,542 — vs. Virginia, March 30, 2019 (16-9 win)
1,521 — vs. UNC, March 24, 2018 (17-11 win)
Top-Three Attendance Counts for Alumni Stadium in 2022
5,937 — vs. UNC, March 20, 2022 (16-15 loss)
4,507 — vs. Syracuse, April 22, 2022 (15-13 win)
3,148 — vs. Notre Dame, April 9, 2022 (16-10 win)
Syracuse's Emily Hawryschuk and Meaghan Tyrrell impressed
Even in a loss, Hawryschuk—Syracuse's all-time leading scorer—and Tyrrell—the Orange's top scorer in 2022—put on a show.Both had four goals against the Eagles. BC, in large part thanks to stud sophomore defender Sydney Scales, held Tyrrell in check for much of the first half.
The top-25 Tewaaraton Award nominee took over in the fourth quarter, though. She scored or assisted on three straight goals amid a 4-0 Syracuse run that pulled the Orange within one in the final frame.
Tyrrell's best play came during that stretch. She tried to get Scales with a hesitation move inside the eight-meter arc. Then she pivoted back the other way, gaining a step on Scales in the process, giving Tyrrell just enough room to squeeze a near-post shot past BC goalie Rachel Hall.
Still, keeping Tyrrell at bay for the second and third quarters allowed the Eagles to build the lead they did, which was, ultimately, insurmountable.
“It’s definitely a whole team effort," Scales said. "I might be on her, but everyone’s talking to me, ready to slide, ready to do everything, so our defense was just so locked in. We watched film on her, we tried to study her tendencies. She’s a great player so it was an honor to guard her."
Led by North, BC made its move in the third quarter
For a while, this game was playing out like last year's National Championship.Syracuse staked itself to a first-quarter advantage. BC entered intermission with a one-goal lead. And then the Eagles stole the show in the second half.
BC appeared to be doing the same thing in the third quarter of Friday's matchup. The Eagles outscored Syracuse, 5-2, in the frame, claiming 5-of-6 ground balls, winning 5-of-7 draws and recording two free-position goals.
The surge started with a shorthanded goal. Charlotte North piled up three of her six points in the period, cashing in on a free-position chance with heat-seeking missile that whizzed by Orange goalie Kimber Hower and, earlier in the quarter, putting defender Bianca Chevarie in the spin cycle.
“I think our offense was really gelling," North said postgame. "We focused a lot on chemistry and connecting with each other. We work on it every day in practice. We focus on a seven-thread offense. And when everyone’s attacking, when everyone’s aggressive, it’s going to open up everything for everyone."
She continued: "I think we did a really good job communicating tonight with each other and that really allowed us to gel and create those opportunities.”
Friday night was also about bouncing back from Durham
Duke spoiled North's return to her old school the previous week. BC, down by as many as six goals in the second half, came back to tie the Blue Devils before Duke draw specialist and attacker Maddie Jenner stole the spotlight with a victory in the circle and a goal at the crease's doorstep that went down as the game-winner.The Blue Devils' 16-15 win gave them a shot at the regular season ACC title. But, more importantly, it appeared to shove the Eagles out of the No. 2 spot in the conference tournament, meaning that they'd likely have to face North Carolina in the semis.
But Duke was smacked by the Tar Heels Thursday, and BC beat Syracuse by two goals: the exact goal differential the Eagles needed to lock up the No. 2 seed in the ACC tourney.
Sophomore midfielder Belle Smith, who tied a career high with five goals against Syracuse, discussed BC's mindset after its defeat at Duke.
“I think everyone that comes to BC comes for a reason," Smith said. "It’s an ACC team, and that’s the best conference in the world. So I think you have to expect that you’re gonna have insane opponents like Duke, UNC, Syracuse.
"I think, coming off that loss, that’s what we play lacrosse for—that’s what we play in the ACC for. We’re just fired up for the next game.”
Scales mentioned that, approaching the Syracuse matchup, BC adopted a tournament mentality. For the Eagles, the ACC Tournament started Friday night against the Orange.
The Eagles, also No. 2 nationally in the latest Inside Lacrosse Poll, officially begin the tournament this coming Friday versus seventh-seeded Virginia Tech.
Postgame made for a touching exchange
A few minutes after the final horn sounded, a circle formed on the sideline. Syracuse head coach Kayla Treanor—formerly BC's associate head coach—and assistant coach Kenzie Kent—a dual-sport star at BC—stood with BC defensive coordinator Jen Kent—Kenzie's mom—and ninth-year Eagles head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein.BC assistant coach Sam Apuzzo—the Eagles' first-ever Tewaaraton Award winnner—also had a chance to reconnect with her former coach and teammate.
“We just like laughed right there at the end," Walker-Weinstein said. "I think Jen said something like, ‘We’ll see you in a little bit,’ and she goes, ‘Wait, wait, wait. This is so weird. We’re not on the same team.’ But it’s so good. I love them. Kayla was one of my closest friends, and it’s so awesome to see her doing so well. I’m just so proud of her.”
Walker-Weinstein continued: "I think she’s got them playing really, really disciplined lacrosse. If Syracuse can combine discipline with all their skill and IQ, it’s a dangerous team.”
