Christian Carson-Banister

Classroom

Christian Carson-Banister has maintained a 3.27 GPA while majoring in international relations with a concentration in foreign policy and security. He was named to the Patriot League Honor Roll in the Spring 2014 semester after his freshman season and has been strong in the classroom ever since, balancing a rigorous academic schedule with his lacrosse commitments.

Character

In 2016, Carson-Banister received the University’s Scarlet Key Award, given annually to a senior at Boston University who has demonstrated excellence in student activities, leadership, involvement, and commitment in his/her individual’s College, and in scholarship. It is the premier on-campus award for a student to win.

Carson-Banister was named a captain as a sophomore and has been a team leader all four years at BU. He was not the top goalie on the depth chart when he came to BU, but his hard work in practice and dedication to the goaltending craft quickly vaulted him to the starting role prior to the first game in program history, a position he has yet to relinquish. He puts in extra work on the field and in the strength and conditioning room to make himself the best athlete he can be. He’s also helped make the other goalies who have joined the roster into better players.

Carson-Banister is a terrific spokesperson for the program anytime someone is needed to conduct an interview, and he has been a terrific face of the program.

Community

Carson-Banister is part of the executive board for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at BU, which focuses on community service initiatives and addresses the issues of the student-athlete body. With his help, SAAC has worked on several charitable endeavors that benefit many organizations.

Of note, Carson-Banister and the men’s lacrosse team raised over $27,000 for a non-profit that raises money and awareness for autism. Carson-Banister was one of several Terriers who completed a 100-mile ride from Boston to Newport, Rhode Island, for the charity.

Carson-Banister and the team also work closely with the One Love Foundation. He has organized and led workshops that educate college students on sexual violence and healthy relationships. He and the squad also coordinate registration each year at the Making Strides Cancer Walk in Boston, with Carson-Banister serving as the point person for his team’s participation in that event.

He participated in the department’s annual Holiday Reading Program, in which student-athletes travel to local schools to read to children and interact with them before the Christmas break, and he served as the treasurer of the University’s Off-Campus Council. He planned and executed four events within the Boston area and forecasted revenue growth from those four events to set up a pro bono legal advice program for students at BU.

Away from BU, Carson-Banister has coached lacrosse to inner-city children in his hometown of Dallas through Bridge Lacrosse.

Competition

Carson-Banister has been a three-year starter at BU and will begin his senior season as the starting goaltender. After being named an Inside Lacrosse preseason All-American, Carson-Banister started all 15 games last year and finished the year with a 9.70 goals-against average and a .533 save percentage. He led the Patriot League in total saves with 161.

His highlight performance came against then-No. 16 Navy when he made 15 saves, including five in overtime and several from point-blank range, to help the Terriers earn a 10-9 win in 2OT—the program’s first home win over a ranked foe. Carson-Banister also recorded 13 saves and three ground balls in a 9-8 win at then-No. 14 Harvard, the highest-ranked opponent BU has ever defeated.

As a sophomore, Carson-Banister led the Patriot League with a .557 save percentage. In his rookie season, Carson-Banister was the team’s Most Valuable Player, and his season ended with an NCAA-best 25 saves against a Duke team that went on to win the national title.