Gap between BC and ACC ‘monstrous’

Following BC’s 45-7 loss to Florida State Friday night, the Boston Globe said the “the monstrous gap between the Eagles and their competition in the ACC couldn’t be more apparent.”

This was BC’s 6th loss in 7 games against ACC opponents this season and 14th loss out of the last 15 games against ACC opponents. Due to the presence of teams like UMass, Wagner, and Buffalo on the schedule earlier, the Eagles have a 4-6 record and, with wins in the final games against UConn and Wake Forest, would qualify for a post-season bowl.

From 1999 through 2015, BC lost 4 games by 30 points or more. The Florida State loss was the team’s 4th such loss this season. The Eagles have been shut out 4 times in the last two season. They had 60 games 2010-14 in which they were not held scoreless.

bcflad_fsuAs for the game itself, the highlight for BC might have been just running out into the stadium in front of 74,000 fans and thinking out great it would be to upset the Seminoles on national television. Alas, when Richard Wilson scored a touchdown for BC with just over 3 minutes left in the game, Florida State had 45 points on the board. It was 21-0 at halftime.

The Eagles gained a total of 146 yards in the game. They rushed for 96 yards, 39 of which came on a 39-yard run by Myles Willis in the first quarter. Quarterback Patrick Towles was 3 of 11 for 29 yards. Florida State had 24 first downs to BC’s 8, and gained 416 yards overall.

Game video (It is all Florida State. Duh.)

Basketball/Hockey roundup

Last year, the BC men’s basketball team matched the football team in going winless in conference play. With 10 more chances than the football team to win (18 games vs. 8), the could be considered even more egregiously bad.

But it’s a new season, right? BC opened its season yesterday at home against Nicholls State (that’s that school in Thibodaux, Louisiana). Never behind, Nicholls State beat BC 79-73. Details unbecoming.

Women’s basketball traveled to Connecticut for its opener and lost 65-56 to Hartford.

Women’s hockey swept UNH this weekend, after splitting with BU the previous weekend. BC is 9-3-2 overall and 8-2-0 in Hockey East. As of November 7, they were ranked #6 nationally. The men’s hockey team, meanwhile, moved up to #3 in the country, as of November 7, and have compiled a record of 9-2-1, 5-0-1 in Hockey East.

Hockey is starting up!

Sophomore Serena Sommerfield

Sophomore Serena Sommerfield

In the midst of an, at best, uncertain football season, it is refreshing to note that two of BC’s most successful sports teams — men’s and women’s hockey — are about to open their seasons.

The women’s team, ranked #3 in the nation preseason by USCHO.com, plays at Minnesota Duluth this Friday and Saturday. They meet Maine in their home opener in a two-game series the following weekend. (You can see schedule/results of BC teams on our “Sports Schedules/Results” page.) BC split two exhibition games, losing 3-2 to Boston Pride, a professional team in the National Women’s Hockey League that features several BC alumnae on the roster, and beating the Cambridge Rivulettes, a local junior hockey team, 7-1.

The men’s team is ranked #5 in the nation preseason, according to USCHO.com., but was picked to finish 6th in Hockey East by the league coaches. There are obviously differing opinions on how well the Eagles will adjust to the loss of several players to graduation or the pros, including goalie Thatcher Demko, of San Diego. You can find a lot of information on BC hockey (as well as other BC sports) at bcinterruption.com.

BC men’s hockey has an exhibition game this Sunday against Carleton, a Canadian university in Ottawa, at Warrior Ice Arena, the Boston Bruins’ practice facility in Boston. The following weekend, October 7/8, the Eagles play in the Icebreaker Tournament in Denver. They meet the Air Force Academy in the opening round Friday and either Denver or Ohio State in the second round Saturday.

As with most sports, college hockey is showing up more on TV schedules. Several BC men’s hockey games will be televised, including games against Wisconsin on October 14 and 16. Also on the tube(?) will be games against North Dakota December 3 and Notre Dame December 10. Watch for information on San Diego game watches for those and other games.

Let It Go — out of Frozen Four

BC men’s hockey lost today in the semifinals of the Frozen Four. Quinnipiac, ranked #1 nationally for most of the season, scored two early goals and then hung on for a 3-2 victory.

The Eagles finish with a record of 28-8-5. Quinnipiac will play the winner of the North Dakota-Denver game, which takes place today, on Saturday.

Aw, no game watch. :(

UPDATES
— BC finished #3/#4 in the US in the final polls. Denver and BC flipped positions in each poll. National champion North Dakota and runner-up Quinnipiac were #1 and #2.
— Goalie Thatcher Demko was among the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, presented to the best male player in college hockey. Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey won the award. Demko won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s best college goalie.
— Steve Santina, Miles Wood, and Adam Gilmour signed NHL contracts shortly after season’s end. Demko, a junior and first-round NHL draft choice, has not announced his intentions.