The Boston College women’s lacrosse team defeated (previously) #1 Northwestern today, 14-13 to win the NCAA championship. It is the Eagles’ second national title (the earlier was in 2021). They won it in their seventh consecutive national championship game.

BC fell into a 6-0 hole in the first quarter against a team that had beaten them solidly, 18-6, in last year’s title game and had won 14-11 at BC on February 29. They closed it to being down by two, 8-6, at the half, but Northwestern (18-2) used the third period to expand the lead to 10-7.

The Eagles didn’t tie the game until a Rachel Clark goal made it 11-11 with 11:05 remaining in the game. Andrea Reynolds’ goal with 9:39 left put BC ahead 12-11 for the first time and for good. BC’s Kayla Martello put the Eagles up by two, 13-11, at 5:55, but the Wildcats countered at 4:56 to make it 13-12. Mckenna Davis pushed it up to 14-12 with 4:02 left and, despite a NU goal with 59 seconds left, BC held on for the win.

Martello scored five goals and sophomore goalie Shea Dolce made nine saves, including a couple of spectacular ones late in the game. Reynolds, Davis, Clark, and Emma LoPinto each added two goals, and Ryan Smith added one.

The Eagles finished the season 20-3, with no win obviously bigger then today’s.

BC women’s lacrosse, #2 seed in the NCAA championship tournament, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-16 win over Princeton today. They are to play Michigan Thursday, May 16, on the Newton Campus. If they defeat the Wolverines, BC would advance to their seventh straight Final Four.

The offense today was distributed, as six players scored a hat trick or more. Senior Belle Smith scored five goals, a season-high. Junior McKenna Davis led the team with a total of seven points, adding four assist to her three goals.

The teams were tied 7-7 in the middle of the second period when BC began a 7-0 scoring run that went into the third period. During that span, the Eagles scored three goals in 30 seconds to go into halftime with a 13-9 lead.

The lead expanded to 16-9 in the third period, but the Tigers scored the next four goals to get within three entering the final period. BC scored the next four goals, Princeton the next three, and BC had the final tally with 2:15 left.

Junior Rachel Clark, junior Emma LoPinto, and senior Andrea Reynolds each had three goals and one assist. Grad student Cassidy Weeks added three goals.

Sophomore goalie Shea Dolce had 10 saves, eight in the second half.

The Eagles move to 17-3 for the season.

The Boston College women’s lacrosse team will begin play in its 11th straight NCAA championship tournament on Sunday, May 12. The Eagles, seeded #2 in the tournament, will play the winner of the opening round match between Drexel and Princeton at home.

BC qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2013, coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein’s first season as coach of the Eagles. They have played in every tournament since (the 2020 season was canceled because of covid).

In post-season ACC honors announced May 1, four Eagles were recognized:
• Senior Belle Smith repeated as midfielder of the year
• Senior Sydney Scales also repeated as defender of the year
• Sophomore Shea Dolce was named goalie of the year
• Acacia Walker-Weinstein was named co-coach of the year