2023 Men's Top 30: How Boston U Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

BOSTON U MEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 16/19
2023 record: 10-4 (7-1 Patriot)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The Terriers earned the top seed in the Patriot League tournament (again), shrugging off a two-game midseason wobble to handle Loyola, Lehigh and Army in succession to secure a share of first place. Long pole Roy Meyer was a turnover-causing menace for opposing offenses, forcing 32 takeaways. Vince D’Alto (44 G, 24 A) led a potent, veteran attack. And Boston University was unofficial state champion, picking off UMass, Harvard and Holy Cross.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Sort of like Saint Joseph’s — another team that made its NCAA tournament debut in 2022 — the Terriers tripped up at the wrong time. Boston U squandered a seven-goal lead in the Patriot League semifinals against Loyola, went back up by one and then yielded a pair of Adam Poitras goals in less than a minute to drop a 12-11 decision to the Greyhounds.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Thomas Niedringhaus’ goal with 2:51 left secured the Terriers a 12-11 victory at Army on April 28 to secure a share of the Patriot League title.

VERDICT

The Terriers weren’t perfect (a late March loss to a reeling Navy bunch was a puzzler in real time), but their four losses came by a combined eight goals and they spent much of the season as a fixture in the second 10. Maybe there wasn’t quite the same magic as 2022, but Boston U still added another quality season to its burgeoning reputation.