/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53003949/QX1_1484.0.jpg)
The Women’s Beanpot kicks off one week earlier than its older brother this year for the first time. What does that mean for you? An extra Beanpot week!
Let’s do it.
Game Day Info
Semifinals
Boston College Eagles (19-3-4, 15-2-2 WHEA)
vs. Boston University Terriers (13-9-5, 8-8-4 WHEA)
Harvard Crimson (3-15-3, 3-10-3 ECAC)
vs. Northeastern Huskies (16-9-3, 12-7-2 WHEA)
Date: Tuesday, January 31st, 2017
Puck Drop: BC/BU: 5pm, HU/NU: 8pm
Venue: Matthews Arena, Boston MA
How To Watch: Stream the games for free in HD courtesy of Northeastern’s excellent GoNUxstream platform.
How To Listen: Hear the live call at BCEagles.tv or on your radio dial at WBNW 1120 AM. Perfect for the snowy drive home.
Preview:
Boston College vs. Boston University: The Eagles have quietly turned on the jets since a slow start to the season. So quietly, in fact, that since the October 31st poll, the only position the Eagles have been in the polls is 6th — no higher, no lower. But since the slow start, BC has only 1 loss in their last 20 games, suggesting that the pollsters may actually be underrating the Eagles, given the recent struggles of the teams above them.
Unfortunately, that one loss in the last 20 games came to Boston University. Despite being consistently ranked lower than the Eagles, the Terriers always seem to give BC trouble, and could certainly do so again this afternoon. The problem for BU is that they’ve been extraordinarily streaky this year — the Terriers started off the season with two wins before kicking off a nasty 1-4-1 stretch. They followed that up with an 8-1-0 run, and have since crashed and burned going 2-4-4 in their last ten.
Harvard vs. Northeastern: What happened to Harvard? The Crimson are one of the very worst teams in the country, sitting 30th out of 35 in KRACH with only a 3-15-3 record. That’s stunning, given that the Crimson are a historical powerhouse and haven’t had a losing season since the 90’s, even knocking the Eagles out of the Frozen Four just two seasons ago. Their fall from prominence has been swift, stunning, and a complete mystery. Call it the Curse of Caitrin Lonergan.
Northeastern, on the other hand, has found itself having a respectable season despite losing its once-in-a-generation player, Kendall Coyne, to graduation. The Huskies sit pretty comfortably in 2nd place in Hockey East and, like BU, have had an on-again-off-again relationship with the polls.
Traditionally the Women’s Beanpot has set the stage for the end of the season. Along with the usual bragging rights, the tournament will be critical for BC as they look to improve their NCAA tournament seeding. Be sure to follow along tonight at 5pm as the Eagles and Terriers get things started!