#12/14 Army is Patriot League Championship Bound

Friday, April 28

Baltimore, Md.

7:30 PM

Army West Point

11-3

Boston University

12-4

Boston University

Army West Point

#12/14 Army is Patriot League Championship Bound

April 28, 2017 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

BALTIMORE - Led by hat tricks from Cole Johnson and Avery Littlejohn, the second-seeded Army West Point men's lacrosse team advanced to the Patriot League Championship with a 10-7 victory over Boston University on Friday night.

The Black Knights (11-3) will take on Loyola in a rematch of last year's Patriot League Championship. The game time is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday on CBS Sports Network.

Littlejohn provided a much-needed lift with his first-career hat trick, while Johnson finished with a team high four points. Nate Jones scored twice and Gunnar Miller and Conor Glancy found the net in the win as well.

The defense was a big story in tonight's game. Johnny Surdick had an incredible game with six ground balls, three caused turnovers and an assist. He was instrumental in setting down Cal Dearth, the Terriers' top scoring threat, allowing just one goal.

AJ Barretto made 10 stops in the cage for the Black Knights to earn his 11th win of the season. Dan Grabher went 14-of-21 at the faceoff x and reached double digits in ground balls with 11.

Boston University (12-4) concludes a great year. James Burr and Jack Wilson each scored twice in the game, while Wilson added an assist for three points. Hayden Ruiz recorded three points on a goal and two assists. Christian Carson-Banister made 10 stops in the cage in the loss.

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES

This was the first-ever meeting between Army and Boston University in the Patriot League Tournament.
Army played in the second game of the semifinals for the first time since dropping a decision to Lehigh at Ridley Athletic Complex in 2013.
With the win, the Black Knights reach 11 wins in a season for the fifth time in program history and the second time under head coach Joe Alberici.
Army made it to 11 wins for the first time since the Black Knights won the Patriot League Championship in 2010.
The Black Knights are making their third consecutive trip to the Patriot League Championship with the win.
Army is now 9-11 in the Patriot League Tournament and are making their third straight appearance in the title game.
The Black Knights remain unbeaten against the Terriers at 5-0, including a 2-0 mark against Boston University this season.
Army is 4-3 in neutral site games in the Patriot League tournament the last four years.
Johnson became only the fourth player in Army history to reach the top 10 in career goals, assists and points after his score in the first quarter.
Surdick currently has 27 caused turnovers to lead the Black Knights and he posted two or more in a game for the ninth time this season.
He also added his second assist of the year and the close defense has a total of three assists this year.
Littlejohn had three career multi-goal games leading into today.
Miller has scored nine goals so far this season, which is a career high. He sat out all but four games last year.
Grabher reached double-digit ground balls for the fourth time this season and is now over 100 on the year with a 102, which is a career best.
Army has outscored its opponents 44-19 in the first quarter this season and held an opponent scoreless in a quarter for the ninth time this year.

KEY MOMENT

The defense was caught in transition with the score at 6-4 and two offensive midfielders were forced to contribute on the other end of the field. Miller and David Symmes joined the defensive unit during a Boston University offensive possession that lasted for around four minutes. The Terriers hit the pipe twice, but couldn't capitalize on the chance due to the great defense. Army would then score a couple of possessions later to get some insurance.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Black Knights jumped out to an early 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter with four goals from four different players.
Littlejohn got the scoring started and then Jones followed up with his 25th of the year and with 5:41 left in the first Army lead 2-0.
Johnson got in on the act with his first of the night around two minutes later and then Glancy gave the Black Knights a 4-0 at the end of the first 15 minutes.
The Terriers turned the tide early in the second quarter with three-goal run to cut the lead down to 4-3. Dearth, Wilson and Ruiz found the back of the net for the third seed.
Johnson stopped the run with his second of the day with 3:21 left in the half. He assisted on the next goal under a minute later as Miller potted his ninth of the year to make it 6-3 with 2:47 on the clock.
Wilson added his second of the night to close out the scoring in the half and Army had a 6-4 lead.
The Black Knight struggled for portions of the third quarter, but thankfully the defense came up with a huge defensive stand to hold the game at a 6-4 advantage.
Army got back on the board in the second half with Jones scoring his second of the night with an assist to Surdick. It was turned over in the defensive end and passed out to a charging Surdick, who spotted Jones in transition.
Littlejohn then added his second of the night as well and with 2:03 left in the third quarter it was Army up 8-4.
Boston University got one back with 10 seconds remaining in the third and the game went to the fourth with Army leading 8-5.
Littlejohn struck again early in the fourth quarter for his first-career hat trick to give Army a 9-5, but the Terriers answered with back-to-back goals from Burr and Ryan Johnston and it was a two-goal game with 3:30 remaining.
Fortunately for the Black Knights, Johnson broke free during a 10-man ride and scored on the empty net to seal the win.