Ranked at 20th in the nation in the most recent national media poll, the Boston University men’s lacrosse team is coming off of a program milestone victory over the then-16th ranked Navy Midshipmen on Saturday.
The Terriers might not be in the national spotlight if not for the overtime performance from goaltender Christian Carson-Banister, who made five saves in the two overtimes that it took to pick up the 10-9 win.
“We’ve played from down before and have guys that are experienced, and they really showed the younger guys how to stay poised, stick to the game plan, don’t deviate from what we do and play fundamentally.” Carson-Banister said after the win over their Patriot-League rival.
Carson-Banister, the starting goaltender for the Terriers the past two seasons, has helped BU to a tenth-best 9.00 goals allowed per game among teams that have played at least four games.
Early on in the first overtime session, Navy stormed down the field following a strong offensive push from the Terriers. A shot on net caused Carson-Banister to make a kick save before the rebounded shot hit off of the far corner between the crossbar and the pipe.
While the overtime saves were huge in the win, Carson-Banister also made four saves in the first quarter against a Navy offense that was on the attack. BU was struggling to clear the ball and had numerous turnovers, but Carson-Banister kept the Terriers in the contest.
“This guy next to me was incredible,” BU head coach Ryan Polley said at the post game press conference, sitting next to Carson-Banister. “Five saves in overtime, he had such a huge game. It’s just a great program win from man one to man 51.”
The Dallas native has started in every game of the program’s young history, and has become the backbone of the team. Tied for 17th in the nation with 11 saves per game and 16th in the league with a .550 save percentage, being a part of a young program has left the junior goaltender overlooked.
Carson-Banister and the Terriers are traveling this week to Buffalo where they will face the Canisius Golden Griffins, taking a break from conference play following a huge victory aganst one of the nation’s best teams.
“Definitely gives a boost in confidence,” Carson-Banister said. “But now it’s about that confidence and taking it each week and applying the exact same confidence.”
