BOSTON – With help from a combined 16 points from seniors Jennifer Barry, Claire Gola and Lauren Kaye, the Boston University women's lacrosse team (1-0, 0-0 PL) defeated Merrimack (0-1, 0-0 NEC) 17-7 in the season opener on Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.
 
BU tallied 17 goals from eight different Terriers, including one rookie. The Warriors were first to get on the board, but BU never lost its drive. The Terriers had six unanswered goals and two separate nine-goal leads in the win.
 
Barry had eight points in the victory and led in goals scored with six. Gola recorded three assists and five ground balls to lead BU in that category. Junior Reilly Agres was in net the full game and made seven saves to allow BU to start the season in the win column.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless opening six minutes, Merrimack grabbed the first goal of the game 6:33 into the first quarter. The Warriors followed that up with another goal seven minutes in to go up 2-0.
• Grad student Maddie MacMaster lit the lamp for the Terriers off a feed from Gola 9:29 into the first quarter. Her goal kickstarted a streak of six unanswered goals that carried into the second quarter. 
• Barry tied things up 2-2 with 2:08 to go in the first to close out scoring in the opening quarter.
• Freshman Jayne Feeney found the back of the net off a free position attempt to score the game-winner and give BU the lead just 0:20 into the second frame.  Sophomore Hannah Tillier followed up with an unassisted goal of her own with 13:42 to go.
• Kaye found Barry just under a minute later to help her earn a hat trick in the first half.
• Merrimack ended its scoring drought with two goals of its own to close in 6-4.
• Junior Tobey Tick scored off a setup from Tillier for the last goal of the first half.
• Both sophomore Matty Spaeth and Merrimack were given yellow cards towards the end of the half, but Merrimack's yellow card carried over into the second half. Gola controlled the opening draw of the third quarter which helped Kaye find the ball and score on the woman advantage.
• Sophomore Libby Carbo netted a highlight-reel goal with a behind-the-back shot thanks to a pass from Gola to extend BU's lead.
• Merrimack found the back of the net when the clock read 9:35 to close in 9-5.
• The Warriors saw their second yellow card of the game which opened the path for Gola to score with help from Barry and put BU into double digit territory.
• The Terriers logged two additional goals thanks to one a piece from Tick and Feeney.
• Continuing her scoring spree, Barry picked up two additional goals before the quarter ended with assists from Carbo and Gola. Her goals were interrupted by one from Merrimack with 0:55 to go in the quarter.
• The final stanza saw the fewest goals with four total between BU and Merrimack. 
• Kaye grabbed the first goal 1:05 into the fourth and was unassisted. 
• Merrimack closed out its scoring a few minutes later to bring its total to seven goals.
• MacMaster and Barry also made unassisted goals in the fourth, respectively, to push BU to a 10-goal lead with 1:33 to go in the game. MacMaster's was made on a free position attempt.

 
GAME NOTES

• BU scored on two of its five free position attempts.
• Feeney was the lone rookie to record a goal in the season opener.
• Gola recorded five ground balls to lead BU in the category.
• Barry made 11 draw controls on the day.
• BU outshot Merrimack 33 to 14. The opening quarter was the only one in which shots were even with five a piece. 

 
UP NEXT

• BU hosts Stonehill on Wednesday (Feb. 15) for a 4 p.m. matchup at Nickerson Field.