Playing catch-up
By Joe Micik
Alright, here was your BC weekend:
Football: BC beats Virginia 17-13.
I’m happy for the players, particularly the seniors, that they won their final home game. I did not watch or listen to any of it, but of course, I noticed that the Eagles scored 17 points, which makes ten straight BCS games where BC has not topped 26 points in offensive output. I know we’re all high on specific parts of this offense — for example, Chase Rettig — but if it were not for BC’s defense and things like them holding their opponents to 20 or fewer points SEVEN times this season, this team would easily have a losing record. Yes, the quality of BC’s opposition has not been good overall (which is why this season remains a bitter disappointment), but the defense’s accomplishments are very notable and to be respected. It is quite a shame that this team has no offense, because the sky might have been the limit in a weak ACC.
Now, if you’re one of those people who is going to throw a party for becoming bowl eligible in the second to last game of the season, well, congratulations. I have hopes for this program becoming more than a middling 6-8 win squad with no real chance of national prominence or reaching a BCS bowl under the current coaching staff, but hey, that’s just me. At least Rettig and the rest get to play in a bowl, regardless of how meaningless it is. The only problem is, with the exception of Clemson, none of the teams BC has beaten are good enough to make bowls, anyway, so I wouldn’t count on any miracles with Geritol Gary calling the plays upstairs.
Men’s hockey: BC beats Maine 4-0 (Friday), 4-1 (Sunday).
A big weekend sweep of the Maine Black Bears for the Eagles at Conte Forum, and the Eagles are up to 8-4 on the year. Maine, BC’s opponent in last season’s Hockey East title game, are one of the best teams in the conference. That BC pushed them aside with two solid victories is nothing to take lightly.
Women’s soccer: Defeats West Virginia 4-0
The Eagles have advanced once again to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, beating West Virginia at home 4-zip. Next Saturday afternoon on Newton Campus, the Eagles will host the University of Washington for a chance to move to the Final Four.
Women’s basketball: BC beats Dartmouth 87-61 and Vermont 85-50.
Two more runaway wins for the Eagles, both on the road. Their average margin of victory in their first four games is 26.8 points. BC is now 4-0 heading into their next game against Seton Hall on Black Friday.
Women’s hockey: BC beats Boston University 6-3 (Saturday), loses 1-0 (Sunday).
Never a bad weekend when BU loses, especially to us. Olympic medalist Kelli Stack had a hat trick as the #6 Eagles improve to 8-1-4 on Saturday. Unfortunately, this was followed up by a Sunday loss to split the weekend series.
Co-ed sailing: BC repeats as ICSA Championship winners.
Can’t close out the article without mentioning our sailing team which is essentially the best in the nation several years running. They hauled in another national championship this weekend at the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY (Long Island). Congratulations to them.