BU women’s lacrosse team celebrating a goal during a 10-8 loss to Brown on March 10 at Nickerson Field. Photos by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

Athletics

BU Women’s Lacrosse Searches for Consistency Entering Season’s Final Stretch

Despite early season ups and downs, team is focused on advancing to the Patriot League tournament

With 11 regular season games on the books and 6 left to play, the Boston University women’s lacrosse team is emphasizing the importance of consistency.

That starts with focusing on the team’s strengths, says midfielder Tessa Geddes (CAS’27), starting with defense. This season, the Terriers have put an emphasis on cutting off the middle of the field. “We take pride in making offenses really uncomfortable,” she says. “That ultimately leads to turnovers and rush shots, and that’s what fuels our transition game.”

BU’s offense is based off the rush, and the Terriers’ success comes from their speed. After a defensive stop, they like to push, which forces teams to scramble and creates mismatches, Geddes adds. “We turn defense into offense in seconds. We’re showing flashes of what we can be.”

“Our transition game can generate a lot using our speed, and when we put those things together, really, really good things happen,” notes Lauren Morton (CAS’08), BU head coach.

But the Terriers—with a record of 5-6 to date—have struggled to put it all together for a full 60 minutes. Specifically, they are searching for a more consistent offense.

It’s about every offensive possession with a shot on goal, Morton says, limiting turnovers, but most important, the Terriers want to dictate the pace of play. Luckily for BU, it has the talent to do that. Geddes and Elle Stevenson (CAS’26) are tied for the team lead with 25 goals, while Avery Cutair (COM’29) leads the Terriers in assists, with 18.

“Tessa has been incredible,” Morton says. “She pushes a lot for us, transition-wise—she’s been great on ground balls. She definitely generates a lot for us in every area of the field.”

Defensively, BU has been relying on underclassmen because injuries have sidelined some of the team’s veteran players. Alexandra Burns (COM’28) and Nia Carrera (COM’28) have stepped up and are playing key roles, joined by freshmen Gabby O’Brien (Questrom’29), Karina Harrison (CAS’29), and Cutair. 

“We’ve asked a lot of them,” Morton says. “They have had to step in and fill some really big shoes, and they’re just continuing to get better and better.”

The group of young players is anchored by a strong leadership group. Captains Abby Cotraro (Questrom’26), Siri Hodgins (CAS’26), and Izabella Amonte (Questrom’27) have been incredible, their coach says. “They just continue to really drive the team, set a really high standard, and keep everyone encouraged and moving in the right direction, which has been important,” she adds.

Up to this point in the season, the Terriers have played a difficult schedule. They’ve faced three ranked opponents thus far in Yale, Army, and Loyola Maryland—going winless in all three games. 

But Hodgins feels that BU has been within reach each time. “Keeping those scores close even in the games that we’re losing helps us,” she says. “It leaves us feeling hopeful and hungry to eventually get on the winning side of it.”

The Terriers currently sit seventh in the Patriot League standings, but they’ve taken up an “every game matters” mindset and are confident they can pick up steam as the regular season enters its final third. 

The team hasn’t reached the Patriot League tournament since 2023, and that’s the goal they’re chasing.

“We’re climbing Mount Everest,” Hodgins says. “We’re trying to be able to get to the top.”

The Boston University women’s lacrosse team will face American March 28 at noon on Nickerson Field. Admission is free for students with a Sports Pass, $5 for members of the BU community, and $10 for general admission. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Follow the women’s lacrosse team @TerrierLacrosse on X.