Boston College Athletics
UNH Tourney Slated For After Thanksgiving
November 22, 2006 | Women's Hockey
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Nov. 22, 2006
#9 Boston College Eagles (9-1-1, 5-1-0 HEA) vs. #3 Mercyhurst College/ Wayne State University
UNH Tournament - Whittemore Center, Durham, N.H.
Friday, November 24, 2006
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (10-1-1, 0-0-0 CHA)
4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
vs. Wayne State Warriors (5-7-0, 0-0-0 CHA)
4:00 p.m.
DROPPING THE PUCK
The Boston College Eagles played just one game last week and, once again, they picked up a victory. BC snapped the UConn Huskies' unbeaten league record on Saturday afternoon by handing them their first Hockey East loss this season, 5-1. The Huskies still sit atop the league standings, but the Eagles were able to skate two points closer to the top spot.
Sophomore Meghan Fardelmann returned from a shoulder injury without skipping a beat to notch the Eagles' first goal of the afternoon on Saturday. Classmate Maggie Taverna put in a solid effort on both the defensive and offensive ends of the ice, including two assists and the game-winning goal :54 into the second period which earned her Hockey East's Pure Hockey Defensive Player of the Week. Freshmen Anna McDonald, Allie Thunstrom and junior Deborah Spillane combined to score the last three Eagle goals and secure the win.
BC vs. THE LAKERS
This all-time series does not have much history behind it, but that could change soon. Three of the Eagles' and Lakers' four meetings have been over the past two seasons, and this year's meeting will be the first in which both teams are ranked in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Division I Poll. Mercyhurst holds a 3-1 advantage, winning the past three meetings. These teams first met on January 20, 2001, a 1-0 Boston College win. The Eagles' lone win was also the only time until this Friday that the two teams played on neutral ice.
BC vs. THE WARRIORS
The Eagles and the Warriors played one two-game set on October 16-17, 2004 in Chestnut Hill, both games being close 3-4 losses for the home team. Senior co-captain Michelle Lombardi, then a sophomore, is the only current Eagle to have tallied a goal against Wayne State.
YOUNG GUNS
The freshman and sophomore classes are making quite the impact for the Eagles this season. Those two classes have tallied 91 of Boston College's 108 points this season (85%) and 40 of 46 goals (87%). Sophomore Becky Zavisza (6-8--14) is leading the charge, but sophomore defender Maggie Taverna was the most recent standout, going 1-2--3 in the last game against UConn and accounting for nine points overall. Below is the scoring break-down for each class.
Goals Assists Points Freshmen 26 28 54 Sophomores 14 23 37 Juniors 5 9 14 Seniors 1 2 3 Team 46 62 108
LEAVE IT TO KEEVER
Freshman forward Megan Keever's first six games with the Eagles weren't particularly eventful, but she has changed that quickly. After tallying one point in six games, Keever has recorded ten points in her last five games, including two gamewinners. She has registered at least a point in each game over this five-game stretch and been named Hockey East Rookie of the Week and runner-up for USCHO Offensive Player of the Week to linemate Becky Zavisza.
HOCKEY IN THE HALL
Erin Magee, `99, made history as the first women's hockey player at Boston College to be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame on November 12 at the 37th Induction Banquet. She ranks first all-time in goals (116), assists (82) and points (198). Her 64 points as a freshman and 55 as a sophomore are the two highest single-season marks in program history. "She was the real deal," said former BC head coach Tom O'Malley who recruited and coached Magee.
HARVEST BABIES
Three Eagles celebrate their birthdays during the month of November and all three turn 20. Sophomore Shannon Webster celebrated November 13, while Stephanie Olchowski and Brie Baskin will each turn a year older this Saturday (25th) and Monday (27th) respectively.
THE NATIONAL SCENE (as of November 21, 2006)
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll
Team (first place votes) Team (first place votes)
1. Wisconsin (19) 1. Wisconsin (15)
2. New Hampshire 2. Mercyhurst
3. Mercyhurst 3. New Hampshire
4. Minnesota 4. Minnesota
5. St. Lawrence 5. St. Lawrence
6. Harvard 6. Dartmouth
7. Dartmouth 7. Harvard
8. Princeton 8. Princeton
9t. Boston College 9. Boston College
9t. Minnesota-Duluth 10. Minnesota-Duluth
UNDER-22 SELECTSThis summer, three Eagles were invited to participate in the U.S. National Women's Hockey Festival, which served as a try-out for the U.S. Under-22 Select Team. Defenseman Maggie Taverna, and forwards Deb Spillane and Becky Zavisza traveled to Lake Placid, N.Y. for the festival, and Taverna and Spillane were selected to play in the Under-22 series against the Canadian team August 24-27. The Americans were edged, 2-1, by the Canadians in the series.
THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING...
The Eagles had their best season in program history last year, and with it came lots of firsts. On February 14, 2006, Boston College won its first-ever Beanpot trophy by defeating Harvard, 2-0, in the title game. Next, the Eagles picked up their first win in a Hockey East tournament game since joining the conference in 2002 when they beat Providence in the semifinals, 3-1. When Boston College moved on to play New Hampshire the next night, it marked the first conference title game for the Eagles. The girls from The Heights finished off their season by hitting the 20- win mark, a feat which none of the previous Boston College teams accomplished.
COACH'S CORNER
Head coach Tom Mutch has compiled a 45-52-12 (.420) record at the Heights in his three-plus seasons since joining the Eagle staff in 2003. He has also earned Hockey East's Co-Coach of the Year Award and been selected to the All-Star game coaching staff. Prior to Boston College, Mutch coached the University of Nebraska-Omaha men's team, the Omaha Lancers Hockey Club, and his alma mater, the Northeastern men's hockey program. In 1996, Mutch accepted a position as the U.S. Women's National and Olympic Hockey team assistant. During his tenure there, Team USA captured the 1998 Olympic gold medal with a 6-0 record, and the silver medal in the 1997 World Championship in Ontario.
