Get well soon, Charlie Davies

Get well soon, Charlie Davies

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Hockey begins in earnest this week...

... and I am SO excited.

Happy New Year, everyone. For all 3 or 4 of you who anticipate my blog posts, sorry for disappointing you lately. I've been extremely lazy all week.

This week saw two home basketball games - an exciting win for the women's team over Northeastern on Tuesday and a boring, sloppy game against horrific Longwood for the men's team last night.

Don't be fooled by how close Tuesday's game was: the women played well. It was one of those days where Northeastern just couldn't miss. BC consistently played sound, tough defense, but the Huskies kept draining 3s. The Eagles fought hard to get the win and it will serve them well as ACC play gets underway today at Virginia Tech.

The real story of this game was (as usual) Stefanie Murphy, who came in off the bench and rescued BC after a cold start. She wound up scoring 22 points, reaching her scoring average despite playing hurt and only playing about half the game. Mickel Picco was also a savior off the bench, hitting four huge three pointers including two back-breakers right in a row late in the 2nd half to help secure the win.

Ayla Brown had another Ayla Brown day (up and down). She really can be a special player, but she still hasn't put it all together. I thought Swords was a little off; I don't think she's athletic enough to handle tough ACC teams. We'll see.


No, this picture isn't from the women's game

The men's game was torture. It was so viciously cold out that people apparently didn't want to leave their homes, as the place was deserted (<4000). onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH73g8MSETYrDGd500w28oJNFGYFxsd2j1dF4RucclUdERDNVvCdmBcj4fwnP0JwxZyrUvZsGZugOjqxv1ZMyoEMUw67tsKCG0E5Qu4FAZzMu4r9ee4cTwH27qZHAkhniPsu-wol7Ot97/s1600-h/break+073.JPG">



The good thing about the terrible turnout: someone gave me a free ticket, and I plopped down in really nice seats. I saw Alex holding down the fort basically by himself in the 'student section.' I thought about joining him, but I was enjoying my Whalepants moment.



I eavesdropped on the conversations of a father and son behind me. The kid was maybe 13 and he was really into BC hoops. I hope I can share something like that with a son or daughter some day.

A final b-ball note: here's a video I took at the game last night of BC running the flex and picking up two points in the first half. It should give you a good idea of the 'atmosphere' at the game. ;)



Anyway, on to my true topic du jour: HOCKEY.

Hockey season is too much of a marathon to get really into it right from the beginning, but the true hockey blitz will now begin for me. With college football basically over, hockey will dominate my sports consciousness from now until, hopefully, the first week of April. (Actually, hopefully longer than that, if the Bruins make the playoffs).

Today, the women's hockey team begins an absolutely crucial stretch of five consecutive games against ranked teams which will really make or break the season. #4 St. Lawrence is in town for two games at Conte Forum, today and tomorrow at 4 PM.

I really don't know how BC can keep up with St. Lawrence's high-powered attack - they are too deep and have too many weapons on offense (Sabrina Harbec, Chelsea Grills, and Carson Duggan are all among the nation's leaders in points). SLU has made the Frozen Four four years in a row.

But as formidable as the ECAC powers are, BC had a lot of success against them last year, going 2-1-1 against the conference's top 3 (1-1 vs. Dartmouth including the win in the NCAA tournament, a win against Harvard in the women's Beanpot, and a tie against SLU).

Why? Well, when you have the best goalie in America and four of the nation's most explosive forwards, you really can beat anyone.

BC's had almost a month to recover from their disappointing first half. The stretch run begins today and there is very little margin for error.

I am a bit worried about how tough the schedule is, but I also have faith in this team.

The men's hockey team gets back in action Saturday night @ Clarkson (the game will be available on pay-per-view webcast for $6), looking to keep up their unreal hot streak.

It's hockey time :)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hey Joe, Hows it going buddy, Seems like I missed quite the game there with the men against Longwood, I even got tickets to the game from my sister, but I was still little tired/plus coming off a cold and the exciting competition to not go to the game. Well least they won. Anyway hope you are well buddy, and we need to keep in touch I miss hanging out with you and having our usual intelligent conversations about music/sports/politics etc.

Jack

The Trophy Case: BC's honors during my years at school

  • Men's Basketball
  • 2006 - Commonwealth Classic Winner
  • 2008 - Commonwealth Classic Winner
  • Women's Basketball
  • 2008 - Caribbean Challenge Winners
  • 2008 - Blue Sky Classic Winners
  • Sailing:
  • 2008 - ICSA Women's National Champions
  • 2008 - ICSA Co-Ed National Champions
  • Football:
  • 2006 - Meineke Car Care Bowl Winner
  • 2007 - Ireland Trophy
  • 2007 - ACC Atlantic Division Champions
  • 2007 - Champs Sports Bowl Winner
  • 2008 - Ireland Trophy
  • 2008 - ACC Atlantic Division Champions
  • Men's Soccer:
  • 2007 - ACC Regular Season Champions
  • 2007 - ACC Tournament Champions
  • Women's Soccer:
  • 2006 - Sweet Sixteen
  • 2008 - Sweet Sixteen
  • Women's Hockey:
  • 2007 - Beanpot Champions
  • 2007 - Frozen Four
  • 2009 - Beanpot Champions
  • Men's Hockey:
  • 2007 - Hockey East Tournament Champions
  • 2007 - Frozen Four
  • 2007 - Mariucci Classic Champions
  • 2008 - Beanpot Champions
  • 2008 - Hockey East Tournament Champions
  • 2008 - Frozen Four
  • 2008 - National Champions

Games I Attended in '07-'08

  • Overall: 51-30-11 + 12 non BC + spring football = 105 games
  • Home: 40-25-6 + spring game
  • Away: 4-5-5
  • Neutral: 7-0
  • Non-BC NCAA Games: 12
  • Men's Hockey: 13-6-5
  • Women's BBall: 8-2
  • Football: 6-1 + spring game
  • Baseball: 5-1
  • Softball: 4-0
  • Men's BBall: 6-4
  • Women's Hockey: 8-11-5
  • Men's Soccer: 1-2-1
  • Field Hockey: 0-1
  • Women's Soccer: 0-1

Stadiums/Fields Seen 07-08

  • Total: 20
  • Conte Forum [BC] - (49)
  • Alumni Stadium [BC] - (8)
  • TD Banknorth Garden - (7)
  • Shea Field, Baseball [BC] - (6)
  • Newton Soccer Field [BC] - (6)
  • Walter Brown Arena [BU] - (4)
  • Shea Field, Softball [BC] - (4)
  • Matthews Arena [NU] - (3)
  • DCU Center [Worcester] - (3)
  • Schneider Arena [PC] - (2)
  • Ridder Arena [Minnesota] - (2)
  • UConn Hockey Arena [Conn] - (2)
  • Agganis Arena [BU] - (2)
  • Tsongas Arena [UML] - (1)
  • Whittemore Center [UNH] - (1)
  • Mariucci Arena [Minnesota] - (1)
  • Bright Arena [Harvard] - (1)
  • Harvard Stadium [Harvard] - (1)
  • Newton Field Hockey [BC] - (1)
  • Houston Field House [RPI] - (1)

Games I attended in 06-07

  • OVERALL 67-27-3 = 97 games
  • Football 6-0
  • M Hockey 17-6-1
  • M Basketball 14-4
  • W Hockey 13-6-2
  • W Basketball 6-3
  • Softball 3-1
  • W Soccer 3-1
  • M Soccer 3-1
  • Baseball 2-4
  • W Lax 0-1

Best Moments

  • Men's Hockey, 4/12/08 - National Champs.
  • Football, 10/26/07 - BC rallies with two touchdowns in the last 2:11 to win at Virginia Tech and maintain their #2 ranking. Students spill out of the dorms and have an impromptu celebration all over campus. What a night. WOW.
  • Men's Hockey, 3/30/08 - BC scores 3 goals in 1:58 to come from an 0-2 deficit to a 3-2 lead late in the 2nd against Miami in the NCAA regional final.
  • Men's Hockey, 3/30/08 - Joe Whitney's ridiculous diving goal sends BC to the Frozen Four, beating Miami 4-3 in OT.
  • Men's Hockey, 3/21/08 - Benn Ferriero's 3OT goal caps a comeback against UNH in the Hockey East semifinals at the Garden.
  • Men's Hockey, 2/11/08 - Nick Petrecki's OT goal wins the Beanpot for BC!
  • Football, 9/1/07 - BC scores a touchdown to tie the game at 21 right before half time against Wake. BC wins 38-28
  • Men's Hockey, 11/30/07 - BU goalie Karson Gillespie gets sent to the box by Benedetto for a swan dive... piss-your-pants laughter follows
  • Men's Hockey, 3/15/08 - Nate Gerbe's amazing penalty shot goal makes it 4-0 BC over PC in Game 2 of the HE QFs
  • Men's Hockey, 2/4/08 - Gerbe slays BU in overtime
  • Men's Hockey, 3/22/08 - BC cruises to another Hockey East title, beating UVM 4-0
  • Men's Hockey, 3/29/08 - BC gets past the Gophers 5-2 in the NCAA tournament.
  • Men's Hockey, 3/15/08 - BC sweeps the Friars with a pair of 5-1 wins in the HE QFs to advance to the TD Banknorth Garden.
  • Women's Hockey, 2/29/08 - Eagles top PC 4-2 in the season's penultimate game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Stack with the ENG to ice it with 4 seconds left.
  • Women's Hockey, 1/4/07 - BC kills off a 5-on-3, Lindsay Wright aka CANADA scores a sick goal, and BC upsets #4 SLU 5-2
  • Women's Basketball, 1/6/07 - BC stuns NC State with a thrilling 1 point come-from-behind victory
  • Men's Soccer, 11/9/07 - BC clinches ACC reg. season title with a win at home against VT.
  • Women's Hockey, 01/12/08 - MN native Allie Thunstrom's goal with 1:30 to go gives BC a tie @ #4 Minnesota
  • Men's Hockey, 3/14/08 - BC blitzes Providence early and often en route to 5-1 win in Game 1 of HE QFs at BC
  • Men's Basketball, 12/23/07 - Tyrese Rice knocks down a floater with less than 5 seconds to play to give BC the 57-55 win over Northeastern.
  • Men's Hockey, 1/19/08 - Carl Sneep's goal in the 3rd ties BU 2-2; pandemonium in the student section
  • Football, 11/24/07 - BC finally snaps the long losing streak against the U.
  • Women's Hockey, 2/10/08 - BC's Stack scores in the 2nd to tie UNH 1-1. We lost, but that was a great moment.
  • Women's Basketball, 12/31/07 - Picco nails back to back three pointers as BC wins a thriller against NU
  • Baseball, 5/13/08 - BC rallies from big early deficit to beat UConn.
  • Softball, 3/26/08 - Fence Girl crashes into the fence, Thunstrom scores winning run, BC downs HC 4-3
  • Women's Hockey, 11/29/07 - A clutch goal with under a minute remaining by Stack gives BC a much needed point @ UConn
  • Women's Hockey, 3/15/08 - UNH tops St. Lawrence 3-2 in OT to give Hockey East a representative in the Frozen Four.
  • Men's Hockey, 11/30/07 - BC explodes for a 3-0 1st period lead en route to a 6-2 win over BU
  • Football, 10/7/07 - BC scores 31 points in the 2nd quarter against Bowling Green and rolls to 55-24 win - up to #4 in the country!

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