Boston College Women’s Hockey Narrowly Defeated by Harvard in Beanpot Semifinals
The Boston College women’s hockey team faced a tough loss in the Beanpot semifinals, dropping a 2-1 decision to Harvard. Ava Thomas scored for the Eagles, and goaltender Grace Campbell turned in a strong performance, but Harvard netted a late third-period goal that proved decisive.
Boston College came into the game with plenty of hope, but Harvard struck first. Late in the opening period, Harvard broke the deadlock and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Eagles pushed back in the second period. At 6:58, Ava Thomas buried a pass from Emma Conner to tie things up at 1-1. That was Thomas’ 13th goal of the season, which is no small feat. The score stayed even through the rest of the second.
Key Moments
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Some moments really stood out:
- First-Period Struggles: Harvard’s goal at 17:50 set the tone and forced BC to chase the game.
- Ava Thomas’ Equalizer: Thomas’ second-period goal brought the Eagles right back into it.
- Third-Period Decider: Harvard grabbed the lead again at 8:23 of the third, and that was the difference.
- Grace Campbell’s Performance: Campbell made 32 saves—she kept the Eagles in it all night.
Team Performance
Boston College actually outshot Harvard 41-34. They created plenty of chances, but just couldn’t get enough past the Harvard goalie. Ava Thomas led the way with seven shots, really driving the offense.
The power play didn’t connect, going 0-for-1, but the Eagles’ penalty kill was perfect, shutting down all four of Harvard’s power plays.
Offensive Highlights
Offensively, a couple of players stood out:
- Ava Thomas: She scored her 13th of the year and fired a team-high seven shots.
- Emma Conner: She set up Thomas’ goal with a sharp assist.
Defensive Stand
On defense, Boston College leaned on Grace Campbell, who stopped 32 shots and kept things close. The defense also held strong on the penalty kill, turning away all of Harvard’s power-play chances.
That penalty-killing effort? It was impressive. They didn’t let Harvard cash in once, which says a lot about the team’s focus and Campbell’s steadiness in net.
Key Defensive Players
Defensively, a couple of names pop:
- Grace Campbell: Her 32 saves really stood out.
- Team Penalty Kill: They shut down all four of Harvard’s power plays. That’s no easy task.
Looking Forward
This loss stings, but it’s not the end of the road. There’s plenty to take away—good and bad. Maybe the main thing? Capitalizing on chances and keeping up the defensive discipline.
Future Goals
Boston College will focus on a few key areas:
- Improving Power Play Efficiency: They’ve got to find ways to score with the man advantage.
- Maintaining Offensive Pressure: Keep firing shots and creating chances—eventually, more will go in.
- Strengthening Team Defense: Build on that penalty kill and keep backing up their goalie.
Conclusion
The narrow loss to Harvard in the Beanpot semifinals stings, but it’s a real chance for the Boston College women’s hockey team to reflect and grow. They showed impressive resilience and flashes of offensive firepower.
Defensively, the Eagles hung tough. Still, there’s room to tighten things up and find that extra edge.
If you want more details on the game, check out the official Boston College Athletics website.