Football:

Freshman linebacker Luke Kuechly, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year after receiving the votes on 29 of the 40 possible ballots.  He finished the regular season second in the nation in solo tackles (81) and total tackles (142) and averaged an impressive 11.83 tackles per game (the highest by any NCAA rookie since recording this statistic started in 2003.)

Matt Tennant, senior center and team captain out of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the outstanding center in NCAA football. Tennant has started all 40 games at the center position since becoming the starter before the 2007 season.  His contributions on offense prevented Dave Shinskie from getting sacked often and allowed Montel Harrie to rush for 1,355 yards this season.

The only other center from Boston College to receive this honor of being a finalist for this award is Dan Koppen, who is now the New England Patriots’ center.

The five other finalists for this award are from Hawaii, Texas, Texas Christian University, Florida, and Baylor.  The winner of the Rimington Trophy will be announced during the ESPNU/Home Depot College Football Awards show, which will air live from Orlando, Florida, on ESPN on December 10.

Men’s Hockey:

Freshman forward Chris Kreider, of Boxford, Massachusetts, is one of 29 players named to the preliminary roster for the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team.  After participating in a training camp in mid-December and then tournament play, a final roster will be selected to compete at the 2010 International World Junior Championship, which will take place from December 26, 2009, through January 5, 2010.  This season, Kreider has played in 10 games, scoring five points on two goals and three assists.

Women’s Soccer:

Senior Kelly Henderson, of Baldwin, New York, is one of 15 players named to the semifinal list for the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy.  The award is the most prestigious individual honor in NCAA soccer.

The Eagles who finished 18-4-2 after losing in the Elite Eight benefited from Henderson at the defender position.  She started all 24 games and was a key to their defense, which had 16 shutouts this season and only allowed 13 goals.

The 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy recipient will be determined by Division I head coaches.  The list of 15 semifinalists will be narrowed down to three finalists on Friday, December 11.  The winner will be announced on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Men’s Basketball:

BC’s basketball boys held on for a 62-58 win over Michigan in front of 10,718 fans in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Led by Corey Raji with a game-high 24 points, sophomore Reggie Jackson contributed with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Joe Trapani aided in the victory with 11 points and 12 rebounds, his first double-double of the season.

Trapani made a three-point field goal with 36 seconds left in the first half, snapping an 82 minute and 38 second drought that BC had not made a three-pointer during.

The Wolverines weren’t going to give up this game easily though as they went on an 11-0 run, making three three-pointers, to narrow BC’s lead to just six points with only 1:57 remaining in the game.  Jackson helped the Eagles hang on as he made five of six free throws in the final minute.

The Eagles (5-2) have a tough game coming up this Sunday at home as they will play in their first ACC game of the season against the undefeated Miami Hurricanes.

Women’s Basketball:

After dropping the first three games of the season, the Eagles have won their fourth consecutive game by beating Iowa 72-67.

Junior Stefanie Murphy led the team with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Brittanny Johnson and Mickel Picco each contributed 12 points. Last week’s ACC player of the week Carolyn Swords contributed 11 of her own.

The Lady Eagles look to improve to 4-4 overall with a win at home on Saturday over Monmouth N.J.