Boston College Athletics Year in Review: 2016-17

With Boston College lacrosse and sailing wrapping up their seasons over the weekend, the 2016-17 BC athletic year has come to an end. It has been a big year for both BC Interruption and BC Athletics, with some great moments and some major letdowns. Over the next few weeks we will be revealing our picks for the 2017 BCI Awards, but in the meantime here is a quick wrap-up of the major storylines of 2016-17.

Let’s start by looking back at the bad stuff to get it out of the way...

The biggest negatives this season were the basketball teams. Both teams won only 2 ACC game each. The men’s basketball team came away with a 9-23 record and lost AJ Turner to Northwestern this summer. The women’s basketball team went 9-21, for their lowest winning percentage since 2011-12. Additionally, star player Mariella Fasoula is leaving BC, which makes next year’s prospects much less promising.

Men’s hockey also had a rough year, although a 21-15-4 record would be a success for many teams in the NCAA. The Eagles, who are consistently a Frozen Four team, missed the NCAA Tournament completely and did not win either the Beanpot or the Hockey East Tournament. With some decent recruits for 2017-18 and a rising sophomore class with a number of promising prospects, next year could be better for the hockey program. (x) (x) (x)

Like the men’s hockey team, BC baseball had an okay but slightly disappointing year. The Eagles went 25-28 overall, lost out in the first round of the ACC Tournament, and did not make the NCAA Tournament. Some close loses and hard fought games mean the season was better than the record appears, but it was a letdown after last year’s post-season run.

The football team had a fine season, going 7-6, finally winning an ACC game, and going to and winning a bowl game. Now that it is summer, we are already getting ready for next football season - keep your eyes out for player profiles from our football writers!

The bright spots in 2016-17 all came from the ladies of Boston College Athletics. Both the women’s ice hockey and lacrosse programs competed in the NCAA Championships... and Kenzie Kent played on both of those teams.

The hockey team won the Beanpot, Hockey East Regular Season Title, and Hockey East Championship. They lost a close NCAA semifinal game to Wisconsin. In other big news for the team, 2 current players (Kali Flanagan and Megan Keller) won gold with Team USA in the IIHF World Championship and will compete in the 2018 Olympics.

The women’s lacrosse team was supposed to be in a rebuilding year this season, but explosive offensive from Kenzie Kent, Kate Weeks, and NCAA leading goal scorer Sam Apuzzo (80 goals) took the team all the way to the Final Four. This was the first Final Four and first NCAA Championship appearance for the team, which lost a hard fought final game to undefeated Maryland. Out of all of BC’s teams, the lacrosse team definitely gained the most new fans this year.

The softball team did not have the level success of lacrosse or WIH and was knocked out in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Despite that, softball provided the most moving moment of the year - Tatiana Cortez’s Senior Night walk off homer, hit in front of over 100 police officers supporting her in place of her injured father.

Of course, the biggest moment of this past year was the “departure” (firing) of Brad Bates and hiring of Martin Jarmond. A young, diverse hire with a history of strong fundraising and football scheduling, Jarmond is an exciting pick for BC AD that has almost universally revitalized excitement among fans.

In a year full of excitement and angst for BC teams, we also had a big year at BCI. We said goodbye (sort of) to former EIC, Joe Gravellese, and I took over the blog in January (the transition was ... controversial for some readers). I’ll always be a hockey fan first and foremost, but I’ve particularly enjoyed becoming a fan of the lacrosse team this season. Now I’m just hoping that the football team can give me a fun first football season as editor...

Here’s to hoping that next year brings more excitement and fewer losses all around... and maybe a women’s lacrosse title :)

Let us know your thoughts on the 2016-17 athletic year in the comments!