The second edition of the Charles River Rivalry had a very different tone from last year’s lopsided meeting. For the only two NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse schools in the Boston area, it’s considered the biggest game of the year.

In 2025, Harvard buried Boston University 16-7. The Terriers fell far behind in the first quarter and never recovered from the early deficit.

But on Tuesday, the Terriers flipped that script. They didn’t leave with a win, but they showed they can go toe‑to‑toe with one of the nation’s best. BU men’s lacrosse (5-4, 3-1 Patriot League) fell 14-11 to No. 3 Harvard (8–0) on March 24 at Nickerson Field.

“The next step is continuing to play consistently in the Patriot League, and then if we get another opportunity to play a team like this, finishing the game,” BU Head Coach Ryan Polley said. 

The Terriers struck first, opening the game with back-to-back goals. Freshman attack Peyton Forte put BU on the board, and senior attack Jimmy Kohr added another to extend the early lead. 

Harvard responded with three straight goals of their own, turning the remainder of the first half into a fast-paced back-and-forth battle. 

Crimson junior attack Jack Speidell — a Team USA U20 teammate of BU sophomore attack Timothy Shannehan — put Harvard on the board and remained dangerous all night, finishing with 4 goals and 2 assists.

After the first quarter, the teams emerged equal with the score tied 4-4. 

In the second quarter, BU held a 2–1 scoring edge. The pace slowed for both sides, but the Terriers controlled the bulk of the offensive‑zone possession. They generated 13 shots, went a perfect 8 for 8 on clears and held Harvard scoreless for a 12‑minute stretch — the longest of the game. 

Momentum flipped after halftime as the Crimson strung together five unanswered goals. Senior midfielder Andrew Perry led the surge with two goals and an assist, constantly pressuring BU’s back line. 

“They made some plays in the third quarter, and we just weren’t able to get the stops,” Polley said. 

BU responded in the fourth, outscoring the Crimson 4-3, but it wasn’t enough to come back. 

Harvard sealed things off with an empty-netter from senior attack John Aurandt IV after BU had sophomore goalie Connor Phillips play out of the net to pressure Harvard defensively. 

At the end of the 60 minutes, BU had much more to show than the final score. The Terriers maintained — and at moments outplayed — one of the best teams in the country. 

The Terriers had their chances. 

BU outperformed Harvard in shots on goal, clears, ground balls, faceoffs and caused turnovers, but a career‑best outing from Crimson sophomore goalie Graham Stevens, who made 22 saves, proved to be the difference.

“He’s a great goalie, and you’ve got to make him work,” Polley said. “I think we gave him a couple [shots] and I think he got some confidence.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s matchup, Inside Lacrosse polls ranked Harvard third in the country, just behind Richmond University and Duke University. BU played better than its last showing against a top-tier opponent — Syracuse University — when the Terriers fell 13-6 in their season-opener.

Offensively, seven different Terriers contributed to the scoring effort, including three-point performances from Kohr and Shannehan and a four-point performance from sophomore midfielder Andrew Pape. 

The next step for the Terriers is not only showing they can compete with top teams in the country but also beat them. 

Yes, it’s still early, but this BU team looks poised for a deep Patriot League postseason run. Winning the conference would punch a ticket to the NCAA tournament — and put the Terriers on a stage with teams like Harvard — solidifying them as not just a contender, but one of the nation’s best.

“We’re in a great position. I know our record is a little disappointing at 5-4 and we got off to a really strong start,” Polley said. “But we’re 3-1 in the Patriot League, still in first place. [We] control our own destiny.”

The Terriers will enjoy a few days of rest before traveling to Loyola, Md., on Saturday, April 4.

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