Category Archives: Hockey

Eagles fall short

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For the first time when meeting a Notre Dame football team ranked in the top four, the Eagles lost. In a “Shamrock Series” game yesterday that put the Fighting Irish as the “home team” in Fenway Park, BC fell behind and then fell short, losing 19-16 to the #4 Irish. BC had beaten then #1 Notre Dame in 1993 and #2 Notre Dame in 2002.

Eagles sing "Alma Mater" at game's end.

Eagles sing “Alma Mater” at game’s end.

BC’s top-ranked defense allowed Notre Dame to gain 447 yards total offense (320 through the air), but also forced five turnovers that stymied Irish scoring. BC’s low-ranked offense often failed to take advantage of what the defense gave them. The Eagles gained 302 yards total offense, but 80 yards of that was on one Jeff Smith touchdown run in the second half. BC had only 13 first downs and 88 yards passing, and punted the ball nine times, compared to four for ND.

In the first quarter, Notre Dame gained 152 yards, compared to BC’s 26 yards, and took a 10-0 lead. Down 3-0, BC forced an Irish fumble on BC’s 32. The Eagles gained five yards in three plays and then fell short of a first down on a fake punt. Notre Dame took over at the BC 40. The defense held and Notre Dame’s attempt at a field goal hit the crossbar. But a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave ND a first down and they converted that to a touchdown to close the first quarter.

After the first quarter, BC outscored the Irish 16-9. They squelched Notre Dame in the second quarter, allowing only 41 yards, but gained only 65 yards themselves and didn’t score. BC freshman Michael Walker returned the second half kickoff 67 yards to the ND 27, but the Eagles then gained only two yards and settled for a field goal.

Notre Dame gained 139 yards (BC 39) in the third quarter and scored a touchdown to make the score, 16-3. The final quarter saw the Eagles gain 172 yards and score two touchdowns, again the feature play being Smith’s 80-yard touchdown run. Lining up for a two-point conversion, BC had a delay-of-game penalty(!?) and failed to convert a pass attempt.

BC, in the fourth quarter, had a drive of one play for 80 yards and finished with a drive of nine plays for 86 yards to score a final touchdown, a three-yard touchdown pass by Smith. The ensuing onside kick failed and Notre Dame ran out the clock.

Highlights

The Eagles conclude their 2015 season Saturday at Syracuse, hoping to break a seven-game losing streak and secure their first ACC win. Game time is 9:30 am PT.Syracuse2015

Last game of the season, so let’s close it out in style!

Happy Thanksgiving, Eagles!

Other sports

Hockey remains a source of solace. The #2 women’s team went to 15-0 with a victory over Northeastern this week. The men (10-1, #2 ) achieved their ninth straight win, beating UNH 6-3 yesterday in Durham.

Men’s soccer extended its run in the NCAA tournament with a 1-0 win over Vermont Thursday at Newton Campus.

BC’s basketball teams also remain undefeated. The women rose to 4-0 with a 58-37 victory over BU yesterday. The men’s team (3-0) defeated Harvard (1-3), 69-56, earlier today for the second straight season, after having lost to the Crimson six consecutive times.

At the track

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A dozen BC Eagles and friends enjoyed a beautiful November afternoon at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club yesterday. Companionship, food, libations, beautiful horses, exciting races . . . at the Turf Club . . . a wonderful afternoon.

Front, l-r: Andrew Lutz ’13, Matthew Pare ‘13, Karlie Wong ’13, Jasmine Howard ‘11, Mary Farrell Berube ‘80 Rear, l-r: Greg Cortese JD’74, Bill McDonald ’68, Nick Mills JD’14, Patricia Hardy Nascenzi ‘80, Bob Nascenzi ‘78. Mike Ross '09 had joined us earlier.

Front, l-r: Andrew Lutz ’13, Matthew Pare ‘13, Karlie Wong ’13, Jasmine Howard ‘11, Mary Farrell Berube ‘80. Rear, l-r: Greg Cortese JD’74, Bill McDonald ’68, Nick Mills JD’14, Patricia Harvey Nascenzi ‘80, Bob Nascenzi ‘78. Mike Ross ’09 had joined us earlier.

This is the second fall season for Del Mar. They call it the Bing Crosby Season and often refer to it as the “BC Season.” We’ll go with that. :)

The 6th race of the afternoon was named in honor of “Boston College Alumni.” Greg Cortese JD’74 and Mary Farrell Berube ’80 represented San Diego Eagles in the Winner’s Circle to present gifts to the winning horse’s owner and jockey. Here’s the finish of that race.

This was a bye week for the BC football team, so there are no highlights. (That a good thing?) Next week is BC’s bowl game — Notre Dame, in Fenway Park. It’s a 4:30 pm PT kickoff and there is, of course, a BC game watch.

ND2015

Other sports highlights

Both hockey teams continued their successful seasons. The #2 men’s team advanced to 9-1 with a 6-4 win over Michigan State. The four goals by the Spartans ended a three-game shutout streak by goalie Thatcher Demo (of San Diego), who had blanked the opposing team in six of the previous seven games. The #2 women are now 14-0, following a weekend sweep of UNH.

Field Hockey won its NCAA tournament opener yesterday, beating Albany, 2-1. The Eagles meet UConn today. (Update: UConn 1, BC 0)

Women’s Soccer, also in the NCAAs, fell to Princeton, 4-2, in its opener. Men’s Soccer ended play the ACC tournament, losing to Clemson, 3-0. The men, however, will host Vermont Thursday in an opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Basketball has started and both Eagles teams opened with a win. The men beat St. Francis (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 75-49, and the women won over Providence, 67-41. The women followed up on that opening win with a victory over Maine today, 55-48.

You can see updated schedules and results on the Sports Schedules/Results page.

Go Eagles!

 

Same old? A spark?

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Thadd Smith touchdown, an occasion too infrequent

Thadd Smith touchdown, an occasion too infrequent for the Eagles overall

Against North Carolina State yesterday, BC had more first downs (16-12) and more offensive plays (71-60), gained more yards passing (257-212), and possessed the ball three minutes longer than the Wolfpack. The Eagles fell short in points, however, 24-8. The lone BC touchdown (photo above) came with only 1:21 remaining in the game.

Freshman walk-on quarterback John Fadule performed pretty well in his first start, compiling the best passing stats of any BC quarterback this season. He was 23 of 37 for 257 yards and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, and was sacked five times.

Tyler Rouse was the Eagles’ rushing attack, with 7 carries for 48 yards. BC, with Fadule losing many yards in sacks, had only 28 yards net on the ground. NC State gained 351 yards in total offense, 212 through the air.

It was Senior Day for the Eagles. BC Athletics compiled this video of four seniors talking about their time at the Heights.

A surprising fact: The Wolfpack win was NC State’s first victory at Alumni Stadium since 1937!

BC (3-7 overall) remains winless in the ACC (0-7) and has been statistically eliminated from post-season bowl competition. The Eagles have a bye week to prepare for their next game, against Notre Dame, Nov. 21, at Fenway Park. Kickoff is at 4:30 pm PT.

Highlights

Hockey and other sports

BC’s men’s and women’s hockey teams — each ranked #2 in the country — kept steaming along this week. The women blasted BU 8-1 to bring their record to 11-0 (5-0), while the men (8-1, 3-0) swept Maine this weekend, 3-0 Saturday and 2-0 today. BC goaltender — and San Diego’s own — Thatcher Demo made 30 saves today and has shut out the opponent in six of the last seven games. That off-season hip surgery has apparently been successful.

Today’s men’s hockey game against Maine featured a donnybrook late in the third period. Six Eagles and six Black Bears received roughing penalties, with three Eagles — Casey Fitzgerald, Colin White, and Miles Wood — also getting 10-minute misconduct penalties along with three Maine players.

The women’s field hockey team fell in the semifinals of the ACC tournament to North Carolina, 3-2, Friday, but not before defeating defending champion Wake Forest, 4-3, in two overtimes on Thursday. The win over Wake was BC field hockey’s first ever in the ACC tournament, which traditionally features the nation’s best college teams.