This was supposed to be the year when Boston College fell off its perch atop the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The previous five years converted the Eagles into one of the nation's most glamorous women's lacrosse programs. The former upstart underdog first advanced to the national semifinals and the tournament's final game when the NCAA Tournament first visited its home state in 2017, and the seasons after that championship loss to Maryland only solidified the team's newfound star status.
A global pandemic canceled the 2020 season, but nothing stunted an upward trajectory that endured through return trips to the national championship game in 2018 or 2019.