No. 13 Army Drops Second Straight, Falls 10–8 at #20 Boston University

Black Knights outshoot Terriers but can’t overcome a second‑quarter lapse. Fellows nets his fourth hat trick of the season.

By J.J. Pavlick | Boston, Mass. | March 14, 2026

What was supposed to be a stabilizing stop on a two‑game road swing turned into another frustrating chapter for No. 13 Army West Point. The Black Knights outshot Boston University, won the ground‑ball battle, matched the Terriers at the faceoff stripe, and got another double‑digit save performance from senior goalkeeper Sean Byrne, but none of it was enough to prevent a second straight Patriot League loss.

Army fell 10–8 at Nickerson Field on Saturday afternoon, dropping to 6–2 (1–2 PL) and heading into a looming showdown at No. 6 North Carolina with momentum slipping in the wrong direction.

Senior attackman Gunnar Fellows delivered his fourth hat trick of the season, while Evan Plunkett added two goals and an assist to reach 150 career points. But a decisive second quarter, where BU outscored Army 4–1, created a gap the Black Knights spent the rest of the afternoon chasing.

Byrne finished with 13 saves, marking his tenth straight game with at least 10 saves, a streak dating back to April 2025.

Army Trades Punches Early, But BU Controls the Middle of the First Half

Boston struck first just 47 seconds into the game, but Army answered quickly. Cal Lambert tied the game at 1–1 at 12:16 off a feed from Hill Plunkett, finishing from the wing after a clean clear.

BU regained the lead at 11:26, then extended it to 3–1 at 8:54. Army responded with composure and pace but couldn’t turn the tide:

• Gunnar Fellows scored unassisted at 5:44
• Evan Plunkett followed 40 seconds later with a solo effort to tie it 3–3

Army pushed for a late first‑quarter lead, generating multiple clean looks, but BU goalkeeper Connor Phillips (13 saves) held firm.

Second Quarter Swings the Game Toward BU

The second quarter opened with a BU goal at 14:23, but Fellows answered at 11:50 to tie it 4–4. From there, the Terriers seized control.

BU scored three straight goals — at 10:18, 9:04, and 3:18 — to close the half on a 7–4 run. Army generated chances, including a pair of high‑quality looks from Fellows and Fountain, but couldn’t break through.

The Terriers’ second‑quarter surge proved to be the difference.

Army’s Third‑Quarter Push Falls Just Short

Boston extended its lead to 9–4 early in the third, but Army refused to fold.

The Black Knights mounted a three‑goal run sparked by a long‑pole strike:

• Drew Miller scored at 8:49 off a feed from Plunkett
• Hill Plunkett finished a transition look from John Sullivan at 6:49
• Fellows buried his third of the day at 5:49

Suddenly, Army was within 9–7 and carrying momentum into the final minutes of the third quarter. Byrne made three critical saves in the final four minutes to keep the deficit at two entering the fourth.

Army Cuts It to One, But BU Closes the Door

For the first time all afternoon, Army scored the opening goal of a quarter when Evan Plunkett finished a feed from Brayden Fountain at 8:58 of the fourth, cutting the deficit to 9–8.

Army had the Terriers on their heels until BU capitalized on a broken defensive rotation at 6:27, with Ethan Hart scoring to push the lead back to two.

The Black Knights fired six shots in the final six minutes, including clean looks from Fellows, Fountain, and Plunkett, but Phillips turned away every attempt. BU’s defense collapsed around the crease and forced Army into contested angles as the clock bled away.

Army allowed only one BU goal in the fourth, but it was the one that sealed the game for the Terriers and sent the Black Knights home disappointed again.

NOTES

• Byrne recorded 13 saves, his 10th straight game with double‑digit stops.
• Army caused five failed clears for BU and committed only four of its own.
• Both teams finished with 11 faceoff wins (Army: Simone 6, Caldwell 5).
• Neither team scored on EMO (Army 0–1, BU 0–2).
• Fellows (3G) recorded his fourth hat trick of the season.
• Plunkett (2G, 1A) reached 150 career points.
• Army was outshot 44–38 but held BU to just one goal in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Army heads to Chapel Hill for a major non‑conference test against No. 6 North Carolina on Saturday, March 21, at 4:30 p.m. ET—the final stop on a challenging road swing.

Army didn’t lose because it lacked talent—it lost because the details slipped, and in this league, details decide games. If you want coverage that reflects the stakes and the standard — the context, the nuance, the truth behind the scorelines — our newsletter is just $2 for the entire year.

We don’t run with the pack. We lead the pack.