How Sydney Scales Became the Heart and Soul of BC Lacrosse

Boston College defender Sydney Scales was initially surprised when she played significant minutes during her freshman year in 2021. She remembered talking to her dad about it.  He wasn’t fazed. But Scales was one of the Eagles’ last signees and saw herself as more of an athlete than a lacrosse player. Just getting on the field was unbelievable, she said.

Well, Scales did more than just see the field. She started the final 18 games that season, solidifying her place as a starter on the Eagles’ first-ever national championship team.

“As a defender, to come in and play at the pace of the team as a freshman, and then be a standout defender, I don’t know if anybody really understands how difficult that is,” coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “It was surprising because it’s just so rare to be able to do that, and she did it so easily… But Syd is a unique kid. She’s a unique competitor. She really is something special.”

Scales has only become more dominant since then. This season, she emerged as arguably the country’s top defender while powering Boston College to its fourth championship weekend in her four years in Chestnut Hill. She’s recorded 37 ground balls and 37 caused turnovers in 2024, excelling against a competitive slate — including an ACC championship MVP performance in BC’s win over Syracuse last month.

The Eagles and Orange meet for the third time this season Friday (5:30 p.m. EDT, ESPNU) in the NCAA semifinals at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

A disciplined and eagle-eyed defender, Scales is quick to take advantage of attackers’ slightest mistakes. She glides through ground balls and speeds into transition — a major asset to Boston College’s attack in addition to its defense.

Scales developed that athleticism as a three-sport athlete at Walpole High School in Massachusetts, competing in lacrosse, basketball and field hockey. Basketball was her main sport from fourth grade onward, as she competed in AAU and hoped to someday play in college.

When Sept. 1 of her junior year of high school arrived, Scales stood at a crossroads: chasing her long-time dream of playing college basketball or switching to lacrosse. Ultimately, Scales wanted to compete for national championships, so she chose lacrosse at Boston College. Walker-Weinstein’s “contagious energy” and family-like atmosphere were also major selling points.

Scales’ basketball knowledge remains important to her approach to lacrosse. The sports have similar strategies defensively, she said, which has helped her think outside of the box when making plays.

Since arriving at BC, Scales said her lacrosse IQ has increased each year. That has made her more comfortable taking risks, like going to double a player or reaching for an interception.

This learning began in 2021, when Scales was one of a handful of freshmen to regularly play for the Eagles. Scales said her playing time was a testament to coaches having confidence in her. She felt little pressure from her coaches that season, though she had personal goals.

“Every game, I’d say, ‘It’s my job to shut down this girl,’” Scales said. “‘I’m just going to do that to the best of my abilities.’”

Scales first grew close with Hunter Roman, a fellow freshman defender, in 2021. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with playing in the final four, Roman said, especially after dreaming of it growing up. Roman said Scales helped her deal with the pressure through persevering and embracing it.

In the 2021 NCAA semifinals, Scales was given a daunting task: defend North Carolina attacker Jamie Ortega. Ortega was a Tewaaraton Award finalist on the hunt for a national title, while Scales was a freshman new to championship weekend.

Walker-Weinstein said Scales was not only physically prepared, but also emotionally ready for the matchup. She’s steady and unafraid of a challenge, Walker-Weinstein said.

It helped that BC had two phenomenal attackers on the coaching staff in Sam Apuzzo and Kayla Treanor in 2021. The pair replicated Ortega’s play and matched up against Scales in the week leading up to the game. Treanor is now the head coach at Syracuse.

“Going against them every day was so hard,” Scales said. “But when I stepped on that field for game day, I felt so prepared. It was the unit behind me [too], knowing that if I did get beat, they were going to have my back.”

The practice paid off as Scales quieted Ortega, holding the attacker to just one goal in a nail-biter.  Boston College won 11-10.

Scales’ standout freshman year set the stage for a dominant career in Chestnut Hill. She went on to record 46 caused turnovers and 26 ground balls in 2022, and her strong defensive play has remained steady ever since.

She has also emerged as a leader both for the unit and the entire team. Walker-Weinstein said Scales has been the “heart and soul” of Boston College lacrosse for years, saying she cares about her teammates and what they’re going through off the field.

Scales rallies everyone around her, Roman said, and is “all in about everything.” Roman said Scales brings the team together to talk over any struggles during the season.

“She is able to, during the lulls, bring everyone in and talk everyone through what we’re working through,” Roman said. “[She reminds] everyone that this is a team that’s fighting for a national championship. Not everything has to be perfect, but you need to be working as hard as you can for the people around you.”

Scales’ determined, positive attitude extends to games. Roman said Scales identifies issues executing the game plan and advises teammates on how to fix them while in the huddle. She always tells them to have each other’s backs.

Scales said these lessons she’s learned as a leader — like hyping someone up when they need it or holding others accountable — will stick with her for the rest of her life.

But Scales isn’t all seriousness at practice. Roman said she and Scales like to speak in Spanish together, calling each other chica and yelling phrases loudly while at practice. Graduate defender Becky Browndorf has also gotten in on it this season, Roman said.

As Scales reflected on her final season, one memory stands apart: the Eagles’ ACC championship victory over Syracuse, in which they came back from a four-goal deficit to win 15-8. Scales left the game proud of her team’s grit and hustle, plus she gained confidence in the Eagles’ ability to bounce back on a big stage.

It’s particularly fitting given Boston College plays Syracuse on the sport’s biggest stage Friday. The Eagles can advance to their seventh straight NCAA championship game. The Orange have lost six straight in the series.

Some may think the Eagles’ presence on Memorial Day weekend is a given, Scales said. But the team doesn’t have that mindset.

“I was sitting on the bus [in Cary] being like, ‘Wow, we’re at the final four,’” Scales said. “This is surreal again. Being able to take in those moments is special and something I won’t take for granted ever.”