(Photo by Jodi Vosika)

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Dominicans versus Jesuits. It’s a Catholic showdown!

Meh, maybe 50 years ago.

These two institutions are about as secular as it gets these days, but it does present a nice coastal showdown in the leafy suburbs of MetroWest.

Dominican, under the tutelage of Sammy Vogel-Seidenberg, emerged this year as a viable tournament team. The road weekend sweep of Arizona and Arizona State catapulted the Penguins into the Top 25 where they have stayed.

D-I Round 1: Dominican at Boston College | https://t.co/KwLikpYVSH #virtualmcla20
— MCLA Tournament '21 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 26, 2020

Former Cal Poly standout John Corbolotti has picked up where he left off in San Luis Obispo in his graduate campaign, providing Dominican with a top-drawer playmaker.

Senior Garrett Teagarden and junior Maxwell Pierce team up with Corbolotti to form an intimidating attack trio.

The big question is how the goalie duo of freshman Carmeron Shank and sophomore Nathan Cable will hold up under the tournament pressure.

“John Corbolotti has played in an MCLA national championship game. He is ready for a big-time pre-game speech,” said Vogel-Seidenberg. “It’ll take more than just talk, but we’re ready to take our shot.”

It’ll take just one phone call for new Boston College coach Patrick Stanton to get a scout on Corbolotti and the Penguins. Stanton was an assistant at Cal Poly before taking over the Eagles program.

Boston College will lean on sophomore goalie Zachary Yorio, who is getting his first starting minutes, to tame the Dominican front line. He’ll be protected by a solid core of defenders, led by precocious California rookie Andrew Bell.

Senior Connor Barrett and sophomore Connor Starkey provide the Eagles with a lanky front line that has the ability to wiggle to the net.

“I consider Boston College a lacrosse school,” said Stanton. “Alumni Stadium will be filled and hopefully unpleasant for Dominican. With that said, we hope they have a safe trip.”

[*- The coach didn’t really say this. This is all made up. It’s fake]