Monthly Archives: March 2018

Frosh named nation’s top player

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Freshman forward Daryl Watts has been named winner of the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top women’s collegiate hockey player. She is the first freshman to win the award and the second Eagle to win it in three years. Alex Carpenter ’16 won it in 2016.

The award was announced earlier today.

“I came to Boston College to have fun playing hockey at the highest level, learn from great coaches, and be part of a special group of teammates,” Watts said. “I never dreamed this year could’ve gone as it did. I am so lucky to be coached by Katie (Crowley), Courtney (Kennedy) and Court (Sheary) and be on the ice with our incredible team. They push all of us to be better every day and this award is as much my teammates’ as it is mine.”

At age 18, Watts is the nation’s leading scorer (82 points) and has the highest point total ever in an Olympic year (when some top college players are on leave from their teams) during the NCAA era (since 2000-01). The Toronto, Ontario, native posted just the 7th 40-goal, 40-assist season in NCAA history, the first in an Olympic year, and just the 3rd in the last 13 seasons.

Watts was the 2018 Hockey East Player of the Year and unanimous selection as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, in addition to unanimous selections to both the conference’s All-Star First Team and All-Rookie squad.

Her 82 points mark the second-highest point total ever posted by a freshman in NCAA play, while her 42 goals are tied for the most by a freshman in NCAA history, matching Harvard forward Julie Chu’s 42 in 2002-03. Watts’ 82 points are also the second-highest single-season point total in Boston College history.

BC finished the season 30-5-3, 3rd-best record in program history. Eagles won their 5th-straight Hockey East regular-season title with a 19-2-3 record, and claimed their 3rd-straight Beanpot title. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history, drawing a top-4 seed for the 7th time in program history.

Tournament time! :(

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[UPDATE: Eagles lost today to BU in the Hockey East semifinals, 4-3, in OT. It is unlikely BC will be selected for the NCAA Tournament.] [UPDATE: Men’s basketball lost to Western Kentucky, 79-62, in the opening round of the NIT and finishes its season at 19-16.] Seasons for men’s hockey and men’s basketball are not over.

The men’s hockey team will play . . . who else? . . . BU in the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament Friday. The Eagles, who won the Hockey East regular season title, beat Merrimack on consecutive nights Friday (1-0) and Saturday (4-3 OT) to advance. Game time is 2 pm PT and it is being broadcast on NESN.

If BC wins, they will play the winner of Northeastern-Providence on Saturday. A win in that game may be necessary for the 20-13-3 Eagles to make the NCAA Tournament.

Men’s basketball will play in the post-season for the first time since 2011. BC (19-15) plays at Western Kentucky (24-10) Tuesday at 5 pm PT in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Game can be seen on ESPN3. The Eagles are seeded 5th in their bracket. Thirty-two teams play in the NIT.

Nine teams from the ACC will play in the NCAA Tournament. BC finished 12th in the ACC this season with a 7-11 conference record. Notre Dame and Louisville are also in the NIT.

Eagles in town

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BC’s women’s lacrosse team made a San Diego stop on its SoCal tour yesterday, beating San Diego State, 19-8. Last Wednesday, the #2-ranked Eagles defeated #12 USC, 13-12, in overtime. The Eagles are 9-0.

Here’s a very brief snippet of action, featuring, in maroon, midfielder Brooke Troy (28) and attacker Captain Tess Daniels (5).

Several local alumni joined the significant number of BC parents, family, and friends rooting for the Eagles. Among the San Diego Eagles joining me at the game were Mary Farrell Berube ’80, Ray Berube ’78, Sarah Lowe Roughneen ’88, Greg Cortese JD’74, and Susan Fleck Gill ’88. A contingent from the girls’ lacrosse team at Cathedral Catholic High School (principal Kevin Calkins ’00) was also in attendance.

Saturday’s weather disrupted post-game plans for a meet-and-greet, but the team did pose with our chapter banner as an expression of appreciation for our support. They also enjoyed seeing the banner displayed on the sidelines of “enemy” territory.

In other BC winter sports action, the #4 women’s hockey team fell short of reaching its 6th Frozen Four in 8 years, losing to #6 Ohio State, 2-0, at home in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. Freshman Daryl Watts is a top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, presented to the nation’s best women’s collegiate hockey player. And BC women’s lacrosse may be boosted the rest of the season by the possible return of hockey player Kenzie Kent, last year’s ACC female athlete of the year for her play on both the hockey and lacrosse teams.