Cassidy Weeks Delivers Signature Win for Boston College

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The field was slick Thursday evening at Boston College’s Alumni Stadium as two top-10 teams clashed in an ACC showdown to close out the regular season.

In perhaps a preview of an ACC women’s lacrosse championship matchup later this month, No. 5 Boston College took down No. 3 Syracuse 11-10 in overtime.

The back-and-forth game tested both teams in the sometimes-sideways rain, but graduate midfielder Cassidy Weeks secured a hat trick and the win with her goal in the extra period.

After the game, junior attacker Rachel Clark, whose third goal of the game helped send the contest to overtime, was still in shock after the Eagles’ gutsy win.

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” Clark said. “We’ve been prepping all week for those moments, and it was just the best feeling ever to finish that shot.”

In the first half, on paper, the Eagles looked to be dominating. Leading several statistical categories, including shots on goal, ground balls and caused turnovers, Boston College was doing almost everything right.

But Syracuse keeper Delaney Sweitzer put on a show. With eight saves for the Orange, despite BC’s best efforts, Sweitzer kept the Eagles’ offense at bay, with Syracuse leading 5-3 at the end of the first half. In the second half, however, things changed.

The Eagles scored three unanswered, started by Weeks while a player up. Her second of three goals sparked the Eagle offense and turned the tide for Boston College. The Eagles’ ability to stay resilient throughout the game impressed head coach AcaciaWalker-Weinstein as the team gears up for the ACC tournament.

“We’ve been talking a lot about resiliency,” Walker-Weinstein said. “We have such a dominant senior class. I think they’ve just been in those moments before and don’t really lose their composure. They’re really cool and calm, which I love.”

The game went back and forth for the remainder of the second half, with seniormidfielder Savannah Sweitzer scoring two in five minutes for Syracuse in the fourth.

In crunch time, with the Eagles needing a goal,Clark delivered with her third of the game. Knotted at 10, a solid defensive possession put the Eagles in a position to hold for the last shot as the clock hit one minute remaining. After an unsuccessful offensive set by Boston College, the Eagles called timeout with just over 10 seconds remaining. A stout defensive performance by the Orange forced the game into overtime, thwarting the Boston College buzzer-beater bid.

In overtime, with both sidelines buzzing, a massive save by sophomore goalie Shea Dolce, who had six on the day against the high-powered Orange offense, the Eagles cleared. Again, the Eagles had a chance to put the game away. This time, their shot found the back of the net.

The Eagles rejoiced as the Orange recoiled in front of a crowd adorned in neon green, the Boston College fan’s signature color to signify family and unity. With the victory, the Eagles netted just what Walker-Weinstein felt the team needed: a signature win.

“I think it’s huge,” Walker-Weinstein said. “I just told the team before the game, ‘We have to scratch and claw.’ We have to have a big win. We have to have a meaningful win for this team. I love how Boston shows up for us. Really appreciative, and the administration crushed the environment, and the girls stepped up to the plate.”

With the ACC tournament set to begin on April 21, Syracuse could get its shot at redemption, while Boston College looks to back up its signature win in a loaded field.

In the aftermath, Clark agreed with Walker-Weinstein, noting that, despite finishing their season ranked in the top 10, Boston College still needed to garner momentum before the ACC and NCAA tournaments. Taking down Syracuse, which was previously unbeaten in the ACC, was not only the start but also a game that the Eagles had kept their eye on all year long.

“This was kind of the game we’ve been looking forward to all season,” Clark said.“We’ve had some tough losses, and I feel like we haven’t really hit our stride yet. I think we needed this game to show who we are and what BC lacrosse is. I think we needed this momentum going into the ACC tournament.”