CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Lacrosse was locked in a battle with the No. 18/18 Boston University Terriers tonight at Nickerson Field, eventually falling to the cross-town foe, 15-11. The Crimson (3-3, 1-0 Ivy) could not overcome an early deficit as the Terriers (6-1, 3-0 Patriot) came away with its first win in the rivalry since the 2017 season.
The Crimson was led by
Sam King, who recorded five points to record his ninth consecutive multi-point game.
Teddy Malone added three goals of his own and
Christian Barnard became the first Harvard goalie to record two goals in a season since at least 1991 in the matchup.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crimson and the Terriers renewed their rivalry on Nickerson Field Tuesday night on a windy night in Boston. Harvard came into the contest winner of the last three meetings against its cross-town foe.
- Both defenses set the tone for the game in the early going, as the teams combined for only three goals and seven turnovers during the first 15 minutes. The Terriers struck first, scoring two unanswered goals, before Andrew Perry got the Crimson on the board with his seventh goal of the season.
- Christian Barnard made a pair of saves while Charlie Muller and Chase Yager each recorded a caused turnover to hold off a high-powered BU offense in the first quarter.
- It was more of the same to start the second quarter, with Yager and Muller each causing another turnover in the first four minutes. The Terriers were able to break through the line to score back-to-back goals and bump their lead to 4-1.
- Vince Cresci got into the mix on the defensive end, causing a turnover that would lead to Harvard's second goal of the night, scored by Teddy Malone.
- After a scoreless six minutes, the Crimson were looking to clear when Barnard noticed BU had vacated its own net. The goalie launched a shot the full length of the field and into the net to score his second goal of the season. The strike cut the BU lead to just one late in the second quarter.
- Sam King got on the scoresheet with just over two minutes left in the quarter, but his goal was sandwiched in between a pair of Terrier goals as the teams went into the halftime break with the score reading 6-4 in favor of BU.
- The second half began in favor of the Terriers who recorded to back-to-back goals to boost its lead to 8-4 early in the third quarter.
- Owen Gaffney broke up the run with a goal at 6:48 in the quarter, cutting the lead. Miles Botkiss followed up with a rocket that found its way into the back of the net to make the score 8-6 with 4:40 remaining in the period. The Terriers would get one more tally on the scoreboard to take a 9-6 lead into the final quarter.
- Hayden Cheek scored the first goal of the fourth quarter for the Crimson just 45 seconds into the period. BU would answer with another two-goal run to boost its lead in the early going of the quarter.
- King and the Crimson did not shy away despite the deficit, as the sophomore led the charge down the stretch, scoring two goals to begin the rally. Malone chipped in with a pair of strikes himself, bringing the Crimson within two goals of the Terriers with 1:36 left.
- The Terriers held onto the lead to take home the win by a score of 15-11.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Sam King led the offensive charge with five points, scoring two goals and recording two assists, also registering his ninth consecutive multi-point game.
- Teddy Malone potted three goals in the effort while Owen Gaffney and Miles Botkiss each had a goal and two assists.
- 13 players scooped up multiple groundballs in the contest which is the most this season.
- Andrew DeGennaro led the charge with six GBs and Sam King was close behind with four of his own.
- Greg Campisi led the defensive effort with three caused turnovers, a season best for the LSM. Gaffney, Muller and Yager each had a pair of CTs in the effort.
- Christian Barnard scored his second goal of the season and is now the most goals for a goalie in a season since at least 1992. Barnard made 11 saves in net tonight and grabbed four groundballs.
UP NEXT
The Crimson will return to Ivy League play this Saturday when it travels to Hanover, N.H. to take on the Dartmouth Big Green. Harvard and Dartmouth will face off at 4 PM this Saturday at Culley-Fahey Field and live on ESPN+.
