BC Rugby

The Boston College men’s rugby team dismantled Harvard’s squad this past Saturday, 43-12 on Harvard’s own turf. Rob Guerrero, Stuart Harris, and Peter Kerr all contributed to the win with tries.

The game this weekend was part of the rugby team’s spring season, which is more of a developmental season than the fall.  No seniors play in the spring season, in order to cultivate the younger players skills.

In the fall, the team failed to qualify for the Nationals, which take place in the spring. After falling apart against Dartmouth at the end of the fall playoff season, they missed their opportunity to compete in this year’s National tournament. Qualifying for Nationals in next year’s fall season looks promising, however, as the team has a large number of returning starters. Players to watch for next year include captain Alex Hunt and co-captains Dave Walsh and Peter Kerr. These three hope to make the biggest impact next fall to lead the team to Nationals.

This spring season has been incredibly successful for the rugby team. They have victories over Harvard, URI, and the Coast Guard Rugby team. They also barely lost to a semi-pro Boston men’s team.

The club team carries 45 members, as one of the largest club sports on campus. They split the team into an A and B squad so that everybody has a chance to play rugby competitively against an opponent.

The men’s rugby team’s success can be largely attributed to their slightly unhinged South African coach, Eugene Mountjoy. His unconventional style of coaching and uncanny ability to make absurd rugby analogies while swearing ecstatically in another language has led the team to victory time and time again.

Coming up this Saturday, May 1st, is the Rugby Alumni game. This is an all-day event, including a cookout, as well as the game itself. The team also sells merchandise and raises money for the program. Alumni from as far as 10 years back come to show that old men can still tackle.

You can find information about the rugby team on their website, http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/st_org/rugby, including pictures, player bios, a team roster, and recent news and scores.

The Jay McGillis Spring Football Game was played last Saturday, and the Jay McGilis scholarship is annually awarded to a deserving defensive player. While everyone knows the name of the spring game, not everyone knows who Jay McGilis was.

Jay McGilis was a sophomore safety for Boston College in 1991 when Tom Coughlin took over as head coach. McGilis was undersized and not the fastest, but he listened to his coaches and worked harder than other players. McGilis was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma in November, received a bone transplant the following April, but lost his battle on July 3, 1992.

This year the Jay McGilis scholarship was awarded to senior cornerback DeLeon Gause. Another Eagle player who has battled cancer is Mark Herzlich, and while he didn’t play in the spring game, he is set to make his return in the first home game on September 4 against Weber State. Ironically, number 94 will be making his highly-anticipated return on 9/4.

Players like Luke Kuechly think Herzlich’s return will add confidence to the team, and the players are in agreement that next season looks like it could shape up to be a good one.  Five players talked to “The Observer” about next season’s toughest game, what it will take to make it to the ACC Championship Game, following up outstanding personal seasons, and the Holy War coming to Chestnut Hill.

DeLeon Gause:

O: You were named the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to a deserving defensive player. What does that mean to you? Why do you think you were awarded the scholarship?

DG: The Jay McGillis scholarship is a great honor, and it is a significant achievement. It is special because it speaks to the character of the athlete, as well as his play on the field. I have worked hard on and off the field and have been blessed to do it at a high level with the help of my teammates and staff support.

O: Last season, you started 10 games and played in all 13. You led the team with four pass break ups and recovered a fumble, and you also finished the year fifth on the team with 49 tackles (33 solo). In what ways can you improve for next season?

DG: I definitely feel I can help my team even more this upcoming year by creating more turnovers for the team and turning them into scores. A defense that creates stops and turnovers is an offenses best friend, so I want to lead by example in that category.

Mark Herzlich:

O: You didn’t play in the spring game. Do you feel like you’re doing well in terms of getting back to the shape you were in before your diagnosis? Will you be able to play in the season opener against Weber State on September 4?

MH: Yes, I feel good. They just didn’t want me to risk an injury in the spring game. I will be ready for the Weber State game.

O: The NFL draft was just last week, did you think at all about what if you hadn’t had cancer that sidetracked your football career, maybe where you would have been in the draft? Do you think you’ll eventually play in the NFL or has cancer changed that?

MH: I don’t know where I would have been in the draft, but I think that I will be able to play again if I have another good season this year.

Luke Kuechly:

O: You had a standout freshman season. You started in 12 games and appeared in all 13. You were named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-ACC First Team. You earned ACC Player of the Week honors three times. You were ranked second in the country in total tackles (158) and solo stops (87). You had the most tackles by a BC defender since 1993 and you earned Defensive Player of the Game honors against USC in the Emerald Bowl with 16 tackles. How do you follow up that kind of breakout season?

LK: I think the main thing is to stay focused on what we are trying to do as a team and that is getting back to the ACC Championship game. Really more than anything, I need to keep learning from the older guys on the team and the coaches so that I can keep growing as a player. I still make a bunch of mistakes that a lot of people may not see, and I need to cut down on those mistakes.

O: Last year, Mark Herzlich was sidelined with cancer, it was the first season Coach Spaz was the head coach, and the quarterback position was up in the air after Dominique Davis transferred. Despite that, you guys still made it to a bowl game. Do you think next year will be an even better season for you guys with some of last season’s issues resolved?

LK: I do think that next year will be a better year. We return a bunch of guys on both sides of the ball, and, like you said, Mark Herzlich will be back, which will definitely help out the defensive side of the ball. His leadership and knowledge of the game will bring confidence to the team. The offense will also be a year older and will have more confidence. I think that next year will be a good year for us.

Montel Harris:

O: You rank 10th all-time at BC in carries (487) and rushing yards (2,357). You had a really outstanding 2009 season. You started all 13 games and recorded eight 100-yard games, the fifth-most in a single season at BC. You ranked second in the ACC in rushing and 18th in the country. You finished the season with five-straight 100-yard games, which is the tied for the third most in a row at BC. You rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against USC in the Emerald Bowl. Do you feel any pressure to maintain that high level of play next season? Where do you think there’s room for improvement?

MH: I wouldn’t say it is pressure on me to do better, but it is important for me to continue to get better to help my team achieve our goals next year. So I feel it is my responsibility to work hard in the off season to work on my pass protection, break away speed, and to be a better leader to help lead BC to a win in the ACC Championship game.

O: Last season, you guys lost to USC in the Emerald Bowl. What do you think needs to happen for you guys to make it to and win a bowl game this season?

MH: For us to win a bowl game next year, we must not make mental mistakes, and we have to execute. If we do that, we will be in the Orange Bowl.

Dominick LeGrande:

O: Last season you appeared in 12 of 13 games and started six. You had your first career interception, as well as 36 tackles (27 solo). What do you think will be a key to you getting more tackles and interceptions next season?

DL: I think just to keep working hard and mastering my technique, as well as reading the offense and knowing how they will try to attack us.

O: The Holy War will come to Chestnut Hill next season. After losing to Notre Dame last year, do you think you guys will be able to win in October? Will playing at home give you any advantage? Who do you think will be your toughest opponent next season?

DL: Well, it’s never good when we lose to Notre Dame, but that loss is kind of still haunting everybody, so yeah, we’ll be very prepared for that game next year. It being at home only makes it better because of that sweet home field advantage. When I think of our toughest opponent, Virginia Tech comes to mind because they’re just a really well-coached team with some outstanding players who make plays. They’re number five in the country so it’s not going to be an easy task.

Team competed with Virgina, Duke, Miami, and North Carolina at Clemson

The women’s rowing squad competed in ACC Championships this past weekend down in South Carolina at Clemson University. They rowed against Clemson, Virginia, Duke, Miami, and North Carolina. The weekend consisted of just one 2,000-meter race per boat type with all six teams rowing head-to-head.

The team finished 4th place overall as a team. The first varsity eight finished 5th in their race while the second varsity eight, novice eight, and first varsity four all finished in 4th place.

BC raced two varsity 8-man squads, a varsity 4-man squad, and a novice 8-man squad. Each race offers a chance for a team to earn points toward their overall score for the day.

BC’s rowers had their most successful competition the weekend before the ACC’s against Holy Cross and UConn. The varsity 8-man, varsity 4-man, and the second varsity 4-man boats all won their respective races. This provided an optimistic boost of confidence for the crew as they headed into the ACC regatta as an underdog.

Though our rowing team is slightly undersized, in both stature and number, the program is most assuredly on the rise. Recruiting has increased steadily over the past couple of years, as is seen in the six letters of intent already signed by high school seniors. The team’s work ethic also keeps them competitive. They wake up around 5 a.m. on most mornings to jog down to the boathouse and get on the water well before 6:00 rolls around. They also row five days a week, only once in the afternoon.

A major component of any boat on a rowing team is its coxswain. The coxswain does not row, but acts as the leader of the boat by counting time and keeping the rowers coordinated and rowing at proper pace. She also implements the crew’s race plan by increasing or decreasing strokes per minute strategically at certain parts of the race.

Rowers earn a spot on the first or second squads by proving themselves not on the water, but on an indoor rowing machine. This is the only way to tell how good someone is individually, since on the water the boat is rowing as a team. Lineups are always changing, though, and someone can row on the varsity 8-man boat one weekend and the second varsity boat the next.

The crew team is now looking ahead to the regatta in Boston, known as the rowing version of the Beanpot, as well as the Eastern Sprints regatta, which is composed of the most elite rowing programs on the East coast including Yale, Brown, and Virginia. If our lady rowers do well in both the Beanpot and the Eastern Sprints, they have a chance to make it to the NCAA regatta.

Max Holloway (56) tries to get to the quarterback as John Wetzel (73) protects him.

The main thing I took away from Saturday’s game, besides terribly sunburnt shoulders, was that Michael Marscovetra should be the starting quarterback in the September 4th game against Weber State.

Marscovetra and Shinskie were the two starting quarterbacks and the 19-year-old sophomore-to-be outshone his 26-year-old fellow sophomore-to-be counterpart.

Marscovetra displayed more accuracy and better decision making than Shinskie. While the much hyped freshman sensation Chase Rettig displayed a rocket launcher for a right arm, Marscovetra had enough zip to find his receivers darting across Alumni field’s turf. Rettig may have better pro potential, but Marscovetra should be the man to start now, as he gives BC the best chance to win football games.

It appears that Shinskie has not progressed as some thought he might. His poor habit of throwing off his back foot and/or throwing into coverage has persisted. While the public has only seen one of the three scrimmages, Saturday indicated that Dr. Jekyll will be making more appearances than Mr. Hyde this fall if Shinskie gets the nod.

The quarterback position was not the only interesting offensive position to take note of on Saturday. The Eagles were extremely short handed at running back with Deuce Finch going under the knife on Friday and Sterlin Phifer in street clothes due to an injury.  Chris Fox and Mike Javorski got the bulk of the carries as Spaziani likely wanted to keep Montel Harris healthy and fresh. Montel is a Cadillac, and there is no need to be wearing tread off those tires in April, as the rest of the ACC will be gunning for him come fall.

Some pass catchers had a dandy day while others preferred to have an unfortunate case of the “dropsies.” Clyde Lee showed great quickness in and out of his cuts and could be a weapon to move the chains on third-and-short. Marscovetra hit the Texan in stride, who in turn burned a few of the Eagle linebackers. Lee is probably the quickest wide-out Gary Tranquill has at his disposal, so look for Clyde the Glide to be lining up opposite Colin Larmond Jr. this fall.

Larmond Jr. was rockin’ the cut-off sweatpants on the sideline, holding out to nurse a nagging injury. He was seen tutoring redshirt freshman-to-be Jonathan Coleman. Coleman is a gangly, young player, who is a bit goofy, but has an enormous ceiling. The coaches rave about him, and I think Coleman could be an X-factor this season. Coleman is an interesting story and did not start playing football until his junior year of high school. He committed to the Eagles and was the first member in his family to go to college.

Highly-touted recruit, quarterback Chase Rettig, drops back to make a pass, finishing 4-for-12 for 48 yards in the spring game.

He wanted to serve as a good role model for his younger sister and felt loyal to Boston College for giving him that opportunity. Even though Jagodzinski bolted right after Coleman committed, the young man honored his commitment and came to the Heights. Coleman is from Radnor, PA, but still turned down the Nittany Lions who came calling after he committed to BC. Nick Saban also called Coleman’s high school coach to see if there would be any interest, but he told Alabama, no thanks.

Coleman should see playing time if he can prove he can handle it, and he did have a few nice catches on Saturday. Ryan Lindsey also turned in a nice performance, including a Lynn Swan-esque full extension dive, which hauled in a 44-yard teardrop from Marscovetra. Tight End Chris Pantale also had a nice afternoon and has progressed a considerable amount. He seems to be a nice option over the middle; the sophomore is a big target, moves well, and has soft hands.

The big uglies up front gave up too many sacks, but one would think that this problem will get worked out before the season, as the Eagles always have excellent lineman. They lost Matt Tennant to graduation and the New Orleans Saints, and were playing without 2011 top-ten draft pick (according to Todd McShay) Anthony Castonzo, so they did not turn in their best performance. I wouldn’t get any anxiety attacks any time soon though over the offensive line. Things will be okay.

Wetzel, Cleary, Richman, etc. were the victims of solid defensive line play on Saturday. Max Holloway, Ifeanyi Chukwu Momah, and Kaleb Ramsey applied pressure all day long. While Holloway probably should not be relied on to replicate his four-sack performance every game, the young man from Florida looked quick off the edge. Number 56 may not be as impressive as the man who famed that number, but he could be one of the better pass rushers this fall. Ifeanyi Momah also was quick off the edge and could pose problems for tackles in the fall, especially on obvious passing situations, as he’s still a bit weak to disengage blockers on running players. Ramsey was also a beast throughout the day and could have a break-out season, something coach Spaz would certainly welcome.

The linebackers were my favorite defensive position to watch, as Luke “the Freak” Kuechly continued to crunch ball carriers as he had all of 2009. Don’t expect Kuechly to slow down, even though he’s taking over in the middle of the defense, opposed to last year when he played the WSLB. Freshman OLB Kevin Pierre-Louis could be the sensational freshman LB this year. This 18-year-old is a man. He is sculpted like a Greek God and hits like a Mac truck. Even though Will Thompson is listed above him on the depth chart, I’d be shocked if KPL doesn’t start right away. Nick Clancy turned in a solid game, as DiSanzo and Herzlich were sidelined.

The secondary looked solid and picked off a few Rettig passes. There is competition at cornerback between Fletcher, Gause and Johnson. Those three should see the most time covering receivers this year. Okoroha, Davis and others seemed good at safety, although Lindsey got behind them for one big gain.

The season is still four months away but there were encouraging signs on Saturday. While there are things to tighten up, this Eagle squad could and I think will have a good season. Besides a September 25th home game against VA Tech, there are no others games that really give me the willies.

Mik Aoki and his crew got things rolling on Friday night as they dropped NC State 9-5. The Eagles fell down by three right off the bat, but came back swinging, led by senior captain John Spatola and Robbie Anston. Spatsy hit a three-run bomb and added two more hits later. Anston was a monster and responsible for six runs.

Starting pitcher Pat Dean could only go four innings as he struggled. Dean gave up four runs to Russell Wilson and crew. Lasko bailed Dean with a solid four-inning relief appearance. Lasko got the W, which gave the Eagles the twenty-first victory of the season.

The Eagles picked up Saturday where they left off on Friday. BC got up 7-3 and held a comfortable lead until the seventh inning. The boys in maroon and gold let the Wolfpack back into the game and then some. They gave up the lead and fell down 8-7, but made up for it by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 10-8 lead that they would hold on to.  Robbie Anston had another big day for the Eagles as he drove in the game-winning runs with a line-drive single in the ninth.

Two local Independent School League products, Micky Wiswal and Anthony Melchionda, also had big days on Saturday, combining for six hits. Dennhardt and Brazis (got the win) combined to pick up the Eagles second win of the weekend.

BC didn’t stop there. The team made the most out of its southern excursion by completing the sweep on Sunday afternoon. It was an up-and-down game, but the Eagles sealed the deal with an 11-10 victory.

The Eagles were off to a hot start on Sunday, taking a 6-2 advantage before things got a bit dicey. NC State scored five unanswered runs, capitalizing on some poor defense by the Eagles. BC battled back all day long though, as Robbie Anston kept his hot streak going, tying things up with a solo shot in the eighth.  BC was not content though, and freshman slugger Matt Watson roped a triple down the right field line, scoring Spatola to take an 8-7 lead.

The Eagles added one more run, before forfeiting two up to NCSU in the bottom half of the inning. The teams traded runs back and forth all day long. BC finally got up for good in the top of the ninth, as Garrett Smith singled in a run. Moran shut the Wolfpack out and secured the sweep for the Eagles. While there have been bullpen troubles all season long, BC overcame those struggles this weekend and had a great, clutch weekend.

They are now tied with Clemson for the division lead, not too shabby.

Anston, senior center fielder, who was a huge key to the Eagles’ sweep over the Wolfpack to tie Clemson for the division lead, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week for his outstanding playing, as well as clutch performances. He had three hits in each game against NC State and is on a 9-game hitting streak. In Friday’s game, he was responsible for six of the nine BC runs, scoring three and driving in three. He drove in the game-winning runs on Saturday, and hit a solo homerun on Sunday to tie the game up before the go-ahead runs. For the week that he received the honors, he led the Eagles in batting (.545), runs (9), hits (12), doubles (3), homers (2), RBI (9), total bases (23) and slugging (1.045).

The Eagles will next play Quinnipiac in Chestnut Hill at 3 p.m. on Tuesday before heading to Dartmouth on Wednesday.

It is the end of March. Jerry York is the head coach at Boston College and his Eagles have packed their bags and are headed out west for the Frozen Four. It is the Eagles seventh appearance in the Frozen Four since 2000; their twenty-second appearance ever. Thus, a BC team that wasn’t going to play on ESPN around Easter time would be abnormal.

It will be business as usual for York and his disciples. This brand of BC hockey is typical in some senses and quite different in others. In both 2001 and 2008, the Eagles won the Beanpot, Hockey East Championship and the National Championship. Both title runs also started in Worcester. Eagle fans hope this pattern repeats itself this year, and ends in the same way on April 10th.

While the Eagles have completed the first two steps of the almighty trifecta, the last step is the hardest and most prized. This year’s squad is greener than Bill Gate’s wallet. Nineteen of the twenty-six players are either freshmen or sophomores.

That youth was seen at times this weekend in their defeats over Alaska-Fairbanks and Yale. They had several mental lapses that must be attributed to their youth. The excessive amounts of sophomoric penalties on Saturday were mind-blowing and costly. They will not be able to afford being a man down when they take on the Miami Redhawks. Miami was the overall number one seed, and BC can’t afford to fall asleep against them. BC gave up three unanswered goals to end Sunday’s affair, something which must be harped upon during this lengthy down time.

And while most of these Eagles probably still live on upper campus, they do still have exceptional talent. They are fast and can score in a hurry. While the offense was somewhat stagnant on Saturday, they exploded Sunday evening. Cam Atkinson seems to be emerging as the next great BC scorer. While he’s certainly not on the Gionta or Gerbe level yet, he registered his 25th, 26th and 27th goals of the year on the Lord’s day. He had his third hat-trick in his last 10 games. My personal favorite was his top shelf snipe as he was being dragged down by a helpless Yale defender.

Gerbe’s scorching scoring pace in the ’08 tourney led to a fresh new banner in Conte Forum. While Atkinson may not be as consistent as Gerbe was, he certainly shows flashes that make eager students in yellow shirts shake their heads.

A team needs a go-to scorer when the lights shine a little brighter. Luckily, if Atkinson is off his A-game, or the team gives up seven goals and needs to score more than usual, there are other forwards who can light up the scoreboard. His linemates, Joe Whitney and Brian Gibbons, are part of lucky thirteen’s line and were a part of a nine-point line on Sunday. These two Mass boys are no slouches in their own right and will be counted upon if the Eagles are to seek a match up with the Badgers of Wisconsin or the Tigers of RIT.

The Eagles will have until April 8th to draw up schemes to beat Connor Knapp of Miami. Their goaltender stopped over fifty shots in their double OT defeat of the Michigan Wolverines. Although we should spend time strategizing new ways to score on the power play, our offense seems to be looking up after Sunday. This is especially true when defensemen are scoring on zone-clearing slap shots that are fired off from behind one’s own blue line (i.e. Carl Sneep on Sunday scoring on a 130 foot “shot”).

The defense is young and that shows in their lack of consistency. However, if Sneep and Dumolin can continue to play well for two more games it may not matter. Dumolin has a +32 on the year, top on the team.

Goaltending is also essential and Muse must sharpen his focus. He has played very well at times over the past two games, but also had big mental lapses. The first goal of the game Sunday occurred because of a gargantuan rebound that he coughed up. The fourth goal of the day was also a weak five hole that cannot be allowed.

He has shone before in the Frozen Four. One only has to look back to ’08, his freshman season, when he stoned North Dakota and Notre Dame. If Muse can limit his rebounds and prevent any soft goals, the Eagles have a legitimate shot to knock off the Redhawks.

The current iron fences in the Mods were built in response to the terror caused by unruly SuperFans in the wake of the 2001 National Championship over North Dakota. Let’s hope that the wee hours of April 11th will cause more protection needed, as students would be celebrating their second championship in three years.

In Jerry we trust.

The BC cycling club looks to finish their spring road season strong as they head to nationals in May.

The cycling team of Boston College deserves recognition as one of the most competitive and active clubs on campus. As part of the Eastern Collegiate Conference (ECC), the club participates in races in both the fall and the spring, requiring many hours on the road traveling throughout New England.

The cycling season is broken up into two parts: fall and spring races. Fall races consist of mountain bike courses while the spring season consists largely of road races.

In their first race of the spring season—the Rutgers Frozen-Toed Season Opener in Piscataway, New Jersey on March 6th—Boston College took 20th place out of 34 colleges and universities.

Boston College took a 13th place finish at the Colombia Grant’s Tomb race and the Stevens Duck Country Circuit in New York on March 13th. On March 20th, the team took 30th place out of 38 schools in the Philly Phyler. This competition took place at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.

Although the team is more than halfway through their spring season, they are still hard at work training for their upcoming events, including the Army Spring Classic in mid-April, Easterns at Dartmouth starting on April 24th, and the Collegiate Road Nationals in Madison, Wisconsin, from May 7th to the 9th.

Followers of the BC Cycling Team can find information regarding past and upcoming events, results and team updates on their web site. The site also features its own twitter page where cyclers can leave status updates regarding race information and team events. If you want to visit the website, go to www.twitter.com/bccycling.

The cycling team welcomes new members who are interested in competing, as well as members who are eager to get on a bike and ride for enjoyment.

Cameron Atkinson:  As long as I am playing well and having fun, I will hopefully move up in the selection process. I grew up right next to New York City so my all time favorite team is the Rangers, but I am very happy and honored to be a part of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.

O:  You’re number 13. Since you’re leading the team in goals, I won’t say that 13 is unlucky for you. But you didn’t have any superstition in choosing that number?

CA:  Haha, to be honest, no. My favorite number is three, but BC retired that number so I chose the next number with a three in it.

O:  At what age did you start playing hockey?

CA:  I started skating at age two and haven’t looked back since.

O:  You guys are 14-2-0 at home, but 9-6-3 away. Would you say that playing in Kelley Rink gives you a big advantage?

CA:  Playing at the Kelley Rink is amazing. Playing in front of your home fans really makes that much more of a difference and advantage. It gives you that little extra confidence boost that results in more wins.

O:  Any pregame rituals?

CA:  Ha um, well I try to nap at least one to two hours.

O:  This season marks the 22nd time in program history that there are brothers on the team and the first time in the 87-year history of Boston College hockey that two sets of brothers – you and Tommy and Joe Whitney and Steven Whitney – are on the same team. What’s it like having your brother on the team?

CA:  I have been fortunate enough to play with my brother since I started skating. We are at such a close age that it was possible to happen. It is such an honor to be on such an elite team like Boston College together. We have both worked so hard to get to this point. He is always there to help me improve my game as well as I am to him. Having him there is also special because he always knows when I need that little extra pep talk to get me going.

O:  You had one of your two hat tricks this season in the first quarterfinal game against UMASS. If your wrap-around goal had not been waived off due to Joe Whitney’s crease violation only 36 seconds into the game, you would have become the first Eagle in history to score four goals in the Hockey East playoffs. Coach York said you played outstandingly. Was that just a really good night for you on the ice or were you getting a lot of quality shots on goal?

CA:  I did not know that until after the game that if I had four I would have been the first player in BC history to achieve that. I was a little upset, but there is still time. I was just in the right place at the right time and got some great shots off. It would not have been as easy if my linemate Joey Whitney did not put it in my wheel house. On the power play, Joe’s younger brother Steve also gave me a perfect pass, so all I had to do was rip it.

O:  Last season, you guys lost to Boston University in the Hockey East tournament semifinal. You also didn’t advance to the Championship game of the Beanpot. This year, you guys won the Beanpot and you also won the Hockey East tournament. What do you attribute this season’s success to?

CA:  I attribute this season’s success to the leadership we have on our team. Captain Matt Price has been one of the best leaders I have had in my career so far. To back him up, Matt Lombardi and Ben Smith give that extra to help to Price to go over the edge. That kind of leadership really helps the younger guys gain confidence and feel like they have been a part of this team forever.

O:  Speaking of that BU/BC rivalry, you guys lost to them at Fenway in January. But you denied them a repeat of last season where they won the Beanpot and the Hockey East tourney. Despite being defending champions, they failed to qualify for the NCAA tourney. Would you say your loss at Fenway Park has been avenged?

CA:  The BC/BU rivalry is so strong in college hockey. Whenever we play them, the temperature is at its highest and everyone is going to play their best game. It was a bummer we lost at Fenway because the venue and atmosphere was so surreal. That being said, even though we lost, that was just a regular season game. We are still playing and they aren’t.

O:  What has been your favorite championship title so far? Beanpot or Hockey East?

CA:  The Beanpot I would have to say just because it was my class’s first big trophy and it was so exciting to win that.

O:  You’ve played in all 40 games, and you are leading the team with 27 goals. You also have 23 assists, for a total of 50 points. You are tied for 2nd among national leaders with 27 goals in 40 games and 8th with a team-high 50 points in 40 games. What would you say is your biggest strength on the ice?

CA:  I would say my linemates as well as teammates make it so easy to play. We all push each other to be the best we can be in practice. I think my biggest strength is my speed as well as my shot. I am lucky that my linemates give me perfect passes and all I have to do is put it in the net.

O:  You have scored ten power-play goals, two shorthanded goals and two game- winning goals, as well as eleven multiple-point performances, including two hat tricks and five multiple-goal efforts. Are you at all surprised with your success this season or have you worked really hard to improve your game? What has allowed you to be the leading scorer that you are?

CA:  I am having fun, which is the most important thing. If you are not having fun then you may as well just not play this sport. I try to get on the ice before and after practice as much as possible to work on the little things to improve my game. Whether that is shooting more pucks, cycling the puck, or cut backs.

O:  You earned Hockey East player of the week in January (18th), and you earned All-Conference second-team honors. Do you pay any attention to awards like that?

CA:  It is exciting, but I do not pay much attention to that. It is an honor just because there are so many good players in this league.

O:  You have a total of 69 points in 76 career games. You went from 7 goals in your freshman season to 27 goals in your sophomore season. What would you say has helped you improve the most from last season?

CA:  I would just say my confidence this year compared to last. It was an adjustment time gong from high school to college, and now I am used to the pace and have a lot of confidence with the puck.

O:  In an exceptionally high-scoring game, you guys beat Yale 9-7. You guys led the entire game, but they made a strong effort in the third with the final three goals of the game. What would you say was the key to Sunday’s success?

CA:  Yale is a great team with a lot of high-offensive weapons. It was a back-and-forth game and was really exciting to play in. I think the key to our success was everyone played their role in that game. Everyone stepped up and played really well. It seemed like we were getting the right shots off and most were going in, which is always good. The leadership has been phenomenal from the beginning, which makes a huge difference. All the underclassmen were composed and calm. We played our game, and when we play our game it’s hard for teams to defeat us.

O:  In that game, you had a hat trick, your third in the last ten games, and a career-high four points. Your three goals and one assist led all BC scorers and you reached the 50-point plateau (27 goals, 23 assists). You also earned Northeast Regional Most Outstanding Player honors and made the All-Region Team. What does it mean to you that you can contribute so much to your team and really help lead them to victory? Does the Outstanding Player honor make your performance any more special to you?

CA:  It is great to contribute. There is not a better feeling. It was my teammates that really have helped me from the beginning. My linemates Joey Whitney and Brian Gibbons have been amazing. We play really well together. When we are on the same page, it’s hard for teams to stop our line. What is so great about our team is we roll four lines. Each line can contribute and score goals. The outstanding player honor is definetely an honor, but I would not of been able to accomplish that without my linemates and teammates.

O:  You’re in the Frozen Four. You need two more wins to win it all. Does the team believe it can win the NCAA Tourney?

CA:  The team is very excited. It’s my classes first appearance, as well as the freshmen. It is every hockey players goal and dream to make it to the national tournament and have a chance to win. We have two more games left, and it will be a battle from the start to finish but we are ready to go. As far as winning, the team believes we can succeed. We need to play our game and we will be fine.

They are the first BC tennis team to ever be nationally ranked. Even more impressive is the doubles team consisting of senior captain Thomas Nolan and Erik Kreutzer, who are currently ranked 21st in the nation.

The team’s record was 16-2 heading into ACC play with losses to only Yale and Columbia.  Virginia, the number one team in the nation, handed the Eagles their first ACC loss.

A tennis match between two schools is won in a team effort through several individual matches.  A day of tennis competition consists of three doubles matches and six singles matches, each number 1 player competing against the opposing number 1, 2 against 2 and so on.  The team that wins 2 out of 3 of the doubles matches earns a point, and a point is gained for each singles match that is one. The first team to four points wins.

Tennis is largely known as an individual sport, but the team consisting of only 13 athletes competes as one team, as well as individually and in doubles.  There are three national championship tournaments at the end of the tennis season: a team, doubles, and singles tournament. The team’s goal this year is to make it to the NCAA men’s national championship tournament, which can be achieved either by winning the ACC straight out, or by having a good enough record to be added into the tournament by a NCAA committee.

As of now, it looks as though Nolan and Kreutzer’s doubles team has the best shot at competing in an NCAA national championship.  Other standouts on the team that have been contributing to the tennis team’s success are John Schroeder, a newly acquired transfer from Indiana, and Akash Mutiddi.

The team looks to turn their ACC play around by getting their first ACC win this Friday against Clemson.

The team’s spring season had commenced with a scrimmage against BU, which they won 7-6 scoring late in the game after a key defensive steal by Ian Malone.  The rest of the team’s spring season would have included a tournament over the weekend of Marathon Monday, which has been cancelled due to the recent allegations.

The hazing policy at BC is incredibly strict.  Club sports directors want to ensure the safety of club sport athletes by educating every club as thoroughly as possible on the dangers of hazing.  At the beginning of the year, each club sport had to send a representative to a meeting in which they showed a video that gave a fatal example of just how dangerous hazing can be.

Last week BCPD contacted members of the club water polo team concerning events that took place in the month of February.  After several interviews, it was decided that the water polo team had violated hazing policies and that several senior members of the team would have to undergo investigation.  Some of the athletes may even be facing further penalties beyond discontinuation the club, depending on what the investigation uncovers.

No freshman were injured during any of the alleged hazing activities, most of which were humorous daytime enterprises such as manning the elevator in Campanella, pushing buttons like a bell boy for everyone in it, and interrupting classes with ridiculous skits.  The freshman acted out a scene from Ghostbusters in class, running around with sheets over their head and playing the theme song on ipod speakers.  Such activities as these involve no danger and are merely embarrassing, spoken of fondly as fun times.

It is known that activities dubbed as hazing by administration can actually serve to galvanize team chemistry and are evidence that team members who have fun together play well together.  However, BC administration cannot afford to take any chances in allowing leeway with hazing, even if there is no danger involved.  For example, it is normal for the freshman on any sports team to be in charge of balls or equipment among other tasks that the team assigns them to.  They aren’t forced necessarily, but it is just an accepted fact that they have to do the teams unwanted labor and the next year, they will ask the freshman to be in charge of equipment, etc.

The hazing policy at BC is such that any form of hazing, no matter how friendly or harmless, is technically against the rules and subject to investigation and penalization.  Club sports are a wonderful addition to such a sports oriented school as BC and it would be a shame to see a club sport cease to exist because of several harmless team-bonding activities.  Hopefully the investigation does not reveal any dangerous or degrading hazing tasks and we can see the club water polo team back in action in the fall.