No. 1 Eagles Push Off No. 24 USC

The lacrosse team remains perfect with their second win over a ranked opponent

NEWTON, Mass.– The No. 1 Boston College lacrosse team had a battle with No. 24 Southern California as they found their sixth consecutive win, 12-9, Friday afternoon in Newton. Senior Sam Apuzzo became Boston College's top all-time point scorer as she ended the day with seven points, pushing her career total to 316. Graduate student Kenzie Kent recorded seven points, as well, through one goal and six assists.

The Eagles seemed to dominate the first half, preventing an abundance of scoring opportunities for the Trojans. The Eagles held control of seven draws to USC's five, while Apuzzo and Cara Urbank each tallied three goals in the opening frame. Kent had a role in all but one of BC's goals throughout the first half – tallying one of her own while adding five assists. The Trojans fouled eight times over the first half, but each team was responsible for 12 turnovers. Sophomore goalkeeper Abbey Ngai recorded five saves over the first half in her second consecutive start.

The second half turned to a battle of the fouls, as USC committed 13 and BC had eight over the closing half. Six of the nine combined goals in the second half were off of free position shots. The Trojans came back hot out of the halftime break, going on a three-goal run to cut the Eagles' lead to just two goals. Goals from Apuzzo and Taylor Walker kept the Eagles in play as Ngai ended with 12 saves on the day, matching her career-best.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 12, Southern California 9
Records: Boston College 6-0, Southern California 3-1
Location: Newton, Mass., Newton Campus Fields

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF

• GOAL: BC 1, USC 0: 24:27 – Urbank got the ball rolling for BC, grabbing a pass from Apuzzo and shooting it home.
• GOAL: BC 2, USC 0: 24:06 – Just 21 seconds later, Apuzzo grabbed her first of the day.
• GOAL: BC 3, USC 0: 23:11 – Apuzzo's third point of the day came from an assist on Kent's first goal of the day.
• GOAL: BC 3, USC 1: 22:52 – Hope Anhut hauled straight down the field and pushed past Ngai to get the Trojans on the board.
• GOAL: BC 4, USC 1: 20:20 – Urbank notched her second of the day just four minutes after her first.
• GOAL: BC 5, USC 1: 15:05 – Apuzzo capitalized on another pass from Kent.
• GOAL: BC 6, USC 1: 11:28 – Arsenault grabbed a pass from Rietano for their first points of the day.
• GOAL: BC 6, USC 2: 8:14 – Emily Concialdi added for the Trojans.
• GOAL: BC 7, USC 2: 7:28 – The Apuzzo-Kent connection secured Apuzzo's third of the day.
• GOAL: BC 8, USC 2: 5:56 – Urbank's third of the day added another assist for Kent.
• GOAL: BC 8, USC 3: 00:15 – USC grabbed another with a goal from Izzy McMahon.

SECOND HALF

• GOAL: BC 9, USC 3: 26:37 – The second half opened with none other than a goal from Apuzzo from Kent.
• GOAL: BC 9, USC 4: 24:36 – USC's Emily Concialdi capitalized on a free position shot.
• GOAL: BC 9, USC 5: 21:37 – Izzy McMahon capitalized on the Trojan's second consecutive free position shot for her second of the day.
• GOAL: BC 9, USC 6: 19:31 – Kelsey Huff notched the third straight for USC.
• GOAL: BC 10, USC 6: 18:39 – Apuzzo's fifth came from a free position shot. 
• GOAL: BC 10, USC 7: 16:28 – USC capitalized on another free position shot.
• GOAL: BC 10, USC 8: 15:51 – USC hopped within two with a goal from Kaeli Huff.
• GOAL: BC 11, USC 8: 12:15 – Taylor Walker capitalized on a free position. 
• GOAL: BC 12, USC 8: 10:32 – Walker grabbed her second of the day off a second consecutive free position.
• GOAL: BC 12, USC 9: 1:15 – After a nine minute skid, Kaeli Huff found her second of the day. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ngai's 12 saves matched her previous career-high.
• Apuzzo's five goals led all scorers. She totaled seven points on the day, adding two assists.
• Urbank grabbed three goals for the third time this season.

GAME NOTES

• BC is out-scoring their opponents 108-57 over their first six games this season.
• Apuzzo has recorded at least three goals in her last nine games dating back to last season.
• Walker has scored in every game so far this season, including hat tricks in the last two games.
• Kent has recorded exactly one goal and six assists in three different games this season. Despite only having 12 goals on the season, she is BC's second-highest point scorer, adding 27 assists for 39 total points.
• Apuzzo became just the second Eagle in program history to surpass the 300 career points mark in their win over Dartmouth on Wednesday. Today, she took sole possession of the program's all-time point record, surpassing Covie Stanwick's record of 309. Apuzzo ended the game with 316 points. 
• BC is 5-0 all-time over USC.
• The Eagles end the day 6-0, gaining their second win over a ranked opponent so far this season.

TEAM LEADERS
Boston College
Points: Sam Apuzzo and Kenzie Kent, 7
Goals: Sam Apuzzo, 5
Assists: Kenzie Kent, 6
Draw Controls: Dempsey Arsenault, 4
Ground Balls: Four players tied, 2
Saves: Abbey Ngai, 12

Southern California
Points: Emily Concialdi and Izzy McMahon, 3
Goals: Three players tied, 2
Assists: Four players tied, 1
Draw Controls: Izzy McMahon, 4
Ground Balls: Kelsey Huff, 3
Saves: Riley Hertford, 8

UP NEXT
The Eagles move onto a road stretch as they get started on Wednesday at No. 17 Navy. First draw is set for 7:00 p.m. in Annapolis.