US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 8. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com throughout January and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition that mails to US Lacrosse members Feb. 1 — opening day of the 2018 college lacrosse season.

No. 9 Boston College

2017 Record: 17-7 (3-4 ACC)
Coach: Acacia Walker (6th year)

All-Time Record: 223-216
NCAA Appearances: 6
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 0

Kenzie Kent got a lot of attention during Boston College’s Cinderella run to the NCAA championship game, but rising junior Sam Apuzzo is just as worthy of your praise.

As a sophomore, Apuzzo scored 80 goals to lead the nation, but also boosted BC wth the fourth-most draw controls (71) in school history.

Gone are Kate Weeks and Kayla O’Connor, and Kent’s future is in flux. But Apuzzo is still at Chestnut Hill, and ready to lead one of the most potent offenses in Division I.

“We’ve worked really hard to innovate around the new rules,” said Walker, referring to the evolution of the draw, the possession clock and now free movement in women’s lacrosse. “A lot of what we do with strategy around the new rules will shape what we do.”

Dempsey Arsenault moves to midfield. Walker called her the secret weapon.

“Dempsey might be the best athlete we’ve ever had at Boston College,” Walker said. “She’s really stabilized our defense and now in midfield, she’s a big part of every scoring play.”

The defense, led by Carly Bell, otherwise returns intact and will require more consistency.

“Since the day I got to BC, we’ve been talking about playing in a national championship,” Walker said. “A lot of coaches don’t like putting that thought in their heads, because so few teams get to actually do it. But it’s been a goal of ours as a program since the beginning of my time. Now that they’ve tasted it, they’re hungrier to get back.”

The Case For Boston College

The Eagles can score, plain and simple, and Apuzzo is just getting better.

Boston College also brings back every defender from last season. Although the unit was ranked just 69th in 2017, it is NCAA tournament-tested.

With goalie Zoe Ochoa gone, that makes the challenge even more difficult for the defense. Freshman Abbey Ngai will get her opportunities in preseason, but Daly has the reins for now.

The Case Against Boston College

The Eagles lost O’Connor and Weeks, and could potentially be without Kent, who has not yet decided if she will rejoin the team in 2018 or 2019 given her commitment as captain of BC’s ice hockey team.

“What we are going to miss the most is their personalities,” Walker said. “They were the most incredible group of leaders I’ve ever coached. We’re missing Ochoa and big goal scorers, but we’ll teach the game the best we can. The lacrosse piece is not what we’re worried about.”

Path to the Playoffs

The ACC is a difficult conference, and it took some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to make the final four last season. Then, to beat Navy and contend with Maryland? Another chance like that may not come around.

But if it does for the Eagles, it means again ascending one of the best conferences in the game.

Walker acknowledged it’s going to be harder to get back, but returners do help. Not only is the ACC tough, but non-conference games against Brown, Navy, Boston University, Louisville, San Diego State, USC and Yale also loom for BC.

Players To Watch

Sam Apuzzo, A, So.
80 G, 71 DC

It’s hard to overlook Apuzzo in any facet of the game, but since she’s a prolific goal scorer, it might be easy to forget how great she is off the draw. Her 71 draw controls last season are the fourth most in program history.

Dempsey Arsenault, M, Sr.
15G, 48GB

Walker called Arensault the Eagles’ secret weapon, especially now that she has moved to the midfield. The senior is able to play both ways, charging down field to contribute to a goal or getting back on defense to blunt opponents’ top dodgers.

Lauren Daly, G, Jr.
11.30 GAA, 45.5 SV%

Daly takes the reigns as the starting goalie with Zoe Ochoa gone, but she’ll have competition. Freshman Abbey Ngai will get her opportunities in preseason, so Daly needs to be sharp to earn her spot.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐

Draw
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

15.42

BC’s 15.42 draw controls per game ranked in the top 10 nationally. Getting possession is the key to scoring, and for the Eagles, winning draw controls is what allowed the offense to explode last season. Apuzzo led the team both in scoring and draw controls, helping her own cause.

5-Year Trend
Goals Scored

Coach Confidential
Acacia Walker

“We made a really good run last season because we had a good sense of who we are, what our strengths and weaknesses are. It will take the first month of preseason to figure that out and learn what weapons we have and what we have from leadership.”

Enemy Lines
Rival Coaches

“Kenzie Kent and Sam Apuzzo are two All-American caliber players on the attack that consistently put up big numbers. This team will be a force for years to come with maybe the best recruiting classes in the NCAA the next handful of years. … Tons of starters return after Cinderella run. If Kenzie Kent decides to play, BC could make another run to the final four. ... If Kenzie plays, they will be hard to stop on offense. ... A tough one to rank with Kenzie Kent not in the lineup until post-ice hockey season. Once she’s on the field, they are contenders on the national level. … I know Acacia, and making the final is not enough, They’re going to use that as motivation with that game in their head for the whole year. … Outstanding chemistry last year. They had some glue players that graduated, like Frankfield. She facilitated so much. … Sam Apuzzo brings that Long Island edge to BC. Kenzie Kent will put them back in final four picture. Without her, it will be interesting to see if Apuzzo can take that role. … They’re going to be pretty strong, gaining confidence coming off their run. Their team peaks at the right time when Kenzie Kent comes back. Acacia does a great job.”