Colorado State Rams (1-3) VS Boston College (3-0)
7:30 p.m. MT | Poudre School District Stadium
Back from the road
This past weekend Colorado State took on two high-energy matchups against UT Austin and TCU. Sunday’s game against TCU tested the Rams’ patience, when tensions arose, the Rams stepped back and focused on smart plays instead of rushing scoring opportunities. Those lessons will be critical as they prepare against Boston College. CSU’s first three matchups, they’ve averaged 32.25 shots per game, showing consistent pressure on the opposing defense. The Rams and Eagles lacrosse teams have gone head-to-head 12 times, with the series currently split 6-6.
Players to Watch
Junior midfielder Adyn Cover continues to impress, scoring five goals against TCU while consistently finding space within tight defensive sets. In addition to contributing offensively, Cover has helped generate Ram possession with six caused turnovers this season.
At the faceoff, junior Max Hall has proven essential in maintaining control of possession, winning 23 out of his 38 faceoffs while also collecting 13 ground balls. Hall’s presence complements first-year faceoff specialist Colt Busta, who leads the Rams in 18 ground balls so far.
For Boston College, junior faceoff specialist John Mallinson leads the Eagles with an 80.6% success rate at the faceoff, a stat that could dictate possession throughout the contest. Boston may also rely heavily on sophomore midfielder Thomas Greenhow, the team’s leading scorer and with seven assists in his first two games.
Boston College on the Field
Boston enters the weekend with momentum after two wins over UT Austin 14-13 Feb. 13 and another against Baylor 19-3 Feb. 14. Through those matchups the Eagles have averaged 16.5 goals per game, while maintaining a 61.9% save rate between the pipes.
The Eagles won their lacrosse game against ASU on March 5, a matchup the Rams will take on just two days after facing Boston. That game could give CSU some additional insight on how the Eagles and ASU will perform against them.
Game Outlook
Friday’s game presents an opportunity for the Rams to leverage on lessons learned on the road and regain momentum early on in the season. CSU currently averages over 40 ground balls per game, along with recording 56 faceoff wins into this season. The team will look to manage emotions on the field while staying steady, winning possessions at the faceoff and capitalizing on ground balls will play a major role in controlling the game’s tempo. With their first home game, the Rams will look to secure a home-game win to their current 1-3 record.