Gabe Perreault scores BC’s first and only goal against BU in the Beanpot Championship. Photo by Eddie Shabomardenly
The #1 BC men’s hockey team started Monday’s Beanpot championship game against BU much like the Philly version of the Eagles in the Super Bowl . . . like gangbusters. They peppered the BU goalie, at one point holding a 15-2 edge in shots on goal. One game viewer said it looked as if the Eagles were always on a power play.
But BC only scored one goal in that first period.
And that was their only goal of the game.
BU flipped the script, scoring the equalizer early in the second period and taking the lead 70 seconds later.
The Eagles had several third period comebacks earlier in the season and started to press the Terriers in the third Monday. An errant pass in BC’s end of the ice gave a Terrier a solo breakaway and BU’s third goal. The final score came on a rink-long shot into BC’s empty net.
Good crowd for San Diego gamewatch. Lots of kids, too!
Each team ended the game with 44 shots on goal. BU’s Russian goalie, 6-5 Mikhail Yegorov, who joined the team only a month ago, turned away 43 shots.
The defeat ended a nine-game win streak for the Eagles, who fell to 21-5-1. They remained #1 in the NCAA PairWise, the system used to select and seed the field for the NCAA tournament.
BC’s junior linebacker Daveon Crouch, lower right, makes one of his 14 tackles in Saturday’s 20-15 loss to Nebraska.
Saturday’s 20-15 BC loss to Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl had so many of the ups and downs of the season that preceded it. Inexplicable failures to score, questionable play calls, unanticipated successes, dazzling plays, and a comeback that fell just short.
At halftime, the Eagles had had the ball for more than 17 minutes, outgained Nebraska 197 yards to 189, and were five of nine on third down conversions. BC also had zero offensive points, scoring only on the return of a blocked point-after attempt, and trailed the Cornhuskers 13-2.
“I thought we were productive, but we couldn’t score,” Coach Bill O’Brien said. “That’s a problem.”
The Eagles didn’t punt in the first half, giving up the ball each time in Nebraska territory. Their first drive ended on the 35-yardline with a missed field goal. Their next three drives all ended on failed fourth-down conversions.
After stopping Nebraska on fourth down at the BC seven early in the second half, the Eagles drove to midfield, but lost the ball on a fumble. Nebraska then lengthened the lead to 20-2, but it was the Cornhuskers’ last score.
BC’s first touchdown came with just over six minutes left in the game. RB Turbo Richard plunged a yard into the endzone to cut the score to 20-8. A two-point conversion pass was incomplete.
Forcing a Nebraska punt on the next series deep in Cornhusker territory, BC blocked the attempt and freshman DB Omar Thornton carried the ball to the Nebraska two. RB Jordan McDonald ran the ball in and, after a successful PAT, the Eagles trailed by only five, 20-15, with 4:18 left in the game.
Nebraska was able to get two first downs and move the ball to the BC 31, where it was fourth and one. The Cornhuskers rushed for 11 yards to get the first down with two minutes left. They then ran out the clock, taking kneel downs, and secured the win.
Statistically, the game was quite close. BC ran 67 plays overall, three more than Nebraska, and gained 348 yards, 15 fewer than Nebraska.
BC’s offense was heavily through the air. QB Grayson James attempted 41 passes, completing 26 for 301 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. James was also BC’s leading rusher, with 22 net yards on nine attempts. He was sacked three times. WR Lewis Bond led the Eagles in receptions, with seven for 99 yards, while TE Jeremiah Franklin had six receptions for 56 yards. Seven other Eagles had pass receptions.
Junior linebacker Daveon Crouch led the BC defense with 14 tackles, nine of them solo.
Highlights (3:14)
The Eagles finish the season 7-6 (4-4). BC has had six or seven wins in 10 of its last 12 seasons and still seeks its first eight-win season since 2009.
Opening game next season is at home against Fordham in late August.
BC’s men’s hockey team is 12-3-1 (6-2-1 in Hockey East) and ranked #2 in the country. The women’s lacrosse team defends its national championship beginning February 7. Look for San Diego gamewatches.
A contingent of San Diego Eagles joined more than a thousand other volunteers on Saturday, December 13, at Miramar National Cemetery to honor veterans buried and inurned there and to recognize in particular a member of the BC Class of 1957.
L-R: Joe Mahler ’74 P’11, Lori Mahler P’11, Jonathan Edge, Dara Garrison, Lissa Tsu ’00, Julie Croce ’93, Bill McDonald ’68 (at rear), Mary-Lou Kiley MSW’77, Brian Tsu ’00, Holly Baird ’97, and Tanya Van Wert ’92.
The group participated in Wreaths across America, a national effort to remember the fallen . . . honor those who serve . . . teach children the value of freedom. BC alumni chapters participate around the country, with large contingents at Bourne and Arlington national cemeteries. The San Diego chapter had previously partaken at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma, but, having honored the BC alumni interred there, moved to Miramar this year.
Joining the chapter contingent was Dara Garrison, our liaison at BC alumni, and her father, Jonathan Edge, a retired Navy veteran. Dara had attended a conference in San Diego during the week and her father was visiting where he had formerly served.
The opening ceremony.
After attending a moving opening ceremony at the cemetery’s assembly area, chapter members placed several wreaths at the headstones of veterans buried there, acknowledging them by name and offering a salute or other gesture of respect.
Then, chapter members gathered at the columbarium, where cremated remains are stored, and located where the cremated remains of Richard John Clarke, Jr., ’57, and his wife, Marilyn, are kept.
The group laid a wreath on the ground beneath the plaque and paid its respects.
Retired Navy veterans Jonathan Edge, left, and Bill McDonald ’68 hold a wreath below the repository of the cremated remains of Richard and Marilyn Clarke.
Richard J. Clarke, Jr., ’57.
Richard J. Clarke, Jr. was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in July 1935 and died in Oceanside, Calif., in October 2017. He served as an officer in the Navy.
