Category Archives: Sports

Nullifyin’ the ‘Noles

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Running back Treshaun Ward takes handoff from QB Tommy Castellanos. Ward scored on a touchdown pass from Catellanos against his former team. Joe Sullivan photo

Underdogs by more than two touchdowns to #10 Florida State, Boston College flipped the script in their 2024 opening game Labor Day in Tallahassee and defeated the Seminoles by more than two touchdowns, 28-13.

It was the first game for the Eagles under new coach Bill O’Brien and the first opening game win by BC over a Top 10 team since 1976, when they defeated #7 Texas 14-13 (I was there). Last night’s victory was not close, however, or dependent on a missed field goal by the opponent. The Eagles imposed on Florida State, especially in the early part of the game.

The Seminoles didn’t make a first first down until 6:13 remained in the first half. By that time, the Eagles had scored twice to lead 14-0. In the opening quarter, Florida State had the ball for 51 seconds and ran three plays for four yards. BC had the ball for more than 14 minutes, running 21 plays for 102 yards.

The Eagles opened the second quarter with Castellanos running the ball in for the game’s first score from the four-yard line. Holding the Seminoles to a three-and-out, BC followed with a seven-play 68-yard drive that finished with a 13-yard Castellano pass to running back Treshaun Ward, who had previously played for Florida State, for a touchdown.

Florida State was able to move the ball better late in the first half, but were twice held to field goals, and BC led 14-6 at the half.

The Seminoles took the second half kickoff to their own 47 and went for it on fourth-down-and-five. Pressured by the BC rush, QB DJ Uiagelelei’s pass was intercepted by BC’s Max Tucker and returned 58 yards to the Florida State seven. Two plays later, Castellanos threw to RB Kye Robichaux for a four-yard TD and 21-6 BC lead.

After each team punted, the Seminoles succeeded in a five-play 72-yard drive, finishing with a 29-yard pass, for their only touchdown.

On BC’s subsequent possession, the Eagles took eight plays to gain 60 yards, with only one third-down play, score on a two-yard run by Robichaux, take a 28-13 lead, and put an end to the scoring.

Each team had three possessions in the final quarter and the Eagles had the ball for 11 plays and the final six minutes. After Robichaux ran for 35 yards to the FSU four with two minutes left, Castellanos kneeled three times to run out the clock and secure the win.

Last September, BC lost 41-39 to Florida State. With less then two minutes remaining in that game, it appeared that the Eagles had held FSU short on third down and could regain possession. Instead, BC was called for a facemask penalty that gave the Seminoles an automatic first down and the game. BC’s penalty was its 18th of that game, a team record.

Yesterday, the Eagles were called for one penalty. FSU had seven.

BC had 18 first downs in the game, 12 of them rushing, and gained 263 net yards rushing. FSU ran for only 21 yards. Castellanos was 10 of 16 passing for 106 yards. The Eagles ran 68 plays, compared to 58 for the Seminoles, and possessed the ball for 39 of the game’s 60 minutes.

The victory was BC’s first over Florida State since 2017. New BC coach O’Brien set the context for this win.

“It’s a very important win for BC and where we’re at,” O’Brien said, “but it’s just one game.”

Here are highlights (11:09).

It’s short week for the Eagles. They play Duquesne Saturday, 12:30 pm PT.

Lax are National Champions!

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The Boston College women’s lacrosse team defeated (previously) #1 Northwestern today, 14-13 to win the NCAA championship. It is the Eagles’ second national title (the earlier was in 2021). They won it in their seventh consecutive national championship game.

BC fell into a 6-0 hole in the first quarter against a team that had beaten them solidly, 18-6, in last year’s title game and had won 14-11 at BC on February 29. They closed it to being down by two, 8-6, at the half, but Northwestern (18-2) used the third period to expand the lead to 10-7.

The Eagles didn’t tie the game until a Rachel Clark goal made it 11-11 with 11:05 remaining in the game. Andrea Reynolds’ goal with 9:39 left put BC ahead 12-11 for the first time and for good. BC’s Kayla Martello put the Eagles up by two, 13-11, at 5:55, but the Wildcats countered at 4:56 to make it 13-12. Mckenna Davis pushed it up to 14-12 with 4:02 left and, despite a NU goal with 59 seconds left, BC held on for the win.

Martello scored five goals and sophomore goalie Shea Dolce made nine saves, including a couple of spectacular ones late in the game. Reynolds, Davis, Clark, and Emma LoPinto each added two goals, and Ryan Smith added one.

The Eagles finished the season 20-3, with no win obviously bigger then today’s.

Lax advances in NCAA tournament

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BC women’s lacrosse, #2 seed in the NCAA championship tournament, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-16 win over Princeton today. They are to play Michigan Thursday, May 16, on the Newton Campus. If they defeat the Wolverines, BC would advance to their seventh straight Final Four.

The offense today was distributed, as six players scored a hat trick or more. Senior Belle Smith scored five goals, a season-high. Junior McKenna Davis led the team with a total of seven points, adding four assist to her three goals.

The teams were tied 7-7 in the middle of the second period when BC began a 7-0 scoring run that went into the third period. During that span, the Eagles scored three goals in 30 seconds to go into halftime with a 13-9 lead.

The lead expanded to 16-9 in the third period, but the Tigers scored the next four goals to get within three entering the final period. BC scored the next four goals, Princeton the next three, and BC had the final tally with 2:15 left.

Junior Rachel Clark, junior Emma LoPinto, and senior Andrea Reynolds each had three goals and one assist. Grad student Cassidy Weeks added three goals.

Sophomore goalie Shea Dolce had 10 saves, eight in the second half.

The Eagles move to 17-3 for the season.