Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/6/24
From Press Release
Matt Fritz (Wissahickon) won 9 of 15 faceoffs and Charlie Huntley (La Salle) scored once to lead Boston University past Saint Joseph’s, 14-10, tonight in an NCAA opener at Staples High School in Westport, CT.
The Hawks fell for just the second time in the last six years in the season opener, falling 0-1 on the season. The Terriers open their season to move to 1-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks struck first in the opening minute, Toron Eccleston earning his first goal in the Crimson and Gray to give the Hawks the lead.
Despite early pressure from St. Joe’s, the Terriers scored twice against the run of play with their first two attacks to quickly take a lead. Carter Page scored his first goal of the season to tie the game, but Boston University added a tally in the final two minutes to take a 3-2 lead after the quarter.
Jesse Jason countered a strike from the hosts in the third minute of the second quarter, but the Terriers added four-straight tallies to extend the advantage to 8-3.
A Michael Gaughan solo goal cut the deficit, while the Hawks were waived off a goal in the final seconds as St. Joe’s went into the locker room with an 8-4 deficit.
Eccleston opened with the first two goals of the second half, cutting the deficit in half to just an 8-6 margin.
After a response from the Terriers, the Hawks poured in another two goals from the graduate transfer as St. Joe’s trailed by the lowest margin since early in the second.
Boston University added the final two goals, holding the Hawks out of the net over the final five minutes to take a 11-8 lead into the final quarter.
Page secured his hat trick in the fourth quarter with the lone two goals for the Hawks, unable to get any closer than a two-goal deficit as Boston University escaped with a 14-10 win.
GAME NOTES
Toron Eccleston led the way with five goals for the Hawks in his first game in the uniform, 11 of his 13 shots on target on the night.
Carter Page added three goals in the defeat, continuing his 28-game goal streak with 87 goals over that span for the third-longest active streak in the country.
Levi Verch added a massive six caused turnovers and eight ground balls in the loss. Pat Clemens (Springfield-Delco) collected two groundballs and a caused turnover to anchor the defense.
Jesse Jason added a goal and an assist in his first collegiate game.
Gavin Tygh (Penn Charter) finished 14-28 from the X in his first game for St. Joe’s.
Shayne Ryan recorded seven saves in defeat.
St. Joe’s outshot the Terriers 45-36, forcing the Terrier goalkeeper into 18 saves on the evening.
The Hawks were 0-6 from extra man opportunities.
SJU dropped just the second season opener in the last six years, falling 0-1 against Boston University after meeting the Terriers for the first time.
