Closing Time

Your Northeastern Huskies welcomed in the Boston College Eagles for one last dance at Historic Matthews Arena yesterday afternoon. At the end of the day, this was still a Hockey East tilt with implications in the standings. This was also the last game before the schedule break for the holidays. But everyone in the building knew there was something else at play; this was the chance – for players, coaching staff, alumnae, pep band, students, fans, workers and support staff to all say goodbye to the grand old barn.

Over 100 women’s hockey alum were on hand for the final tilt on St. Botolph’s Street for the women’s program. The alumni skate in the morning was packed with more than 25 skaters crowding each bench. Everywhere you looked, each generation of the program was represented and there were many young fans on hand to witness the curtain call. I plan an in-depth look at Matthews along with interviews and memories in the coming months so watch this space for a longer piece coming soon, but for now on to the game!

I’m sure the Eagles knew what this game was about from the moment it was announced as the final game for the women’s program. The team from Chestnut Hill knew that they would be swimming upstream over 60 minutes, but I have to imagine they would have loved to play spoiler on this historic afternoon.

After the NU seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony and a great rendition of the national anthem by a Northeastern based acapella group (sorry I can’t find the name but they did a phenomenal job), and a ceremonial puck drop from 2 legends of Matthews (Brooke Whitney and Florence Schelling) the game was finally under way.

With just over 4mins played in the opening frame, BC got on the board. A turnover in the NU zone led to a great bid from the LW that Lisa Jönsson kicked out but Madelyn Murphy dropped down the slot and put the puck far-side to open the scoring. Great instinct by Murphy to pinch and not panic and put that puck where Jönsson had no chance.

That miscue seemed to wake the Huskies up as the play was contained mostly to the BC zone and when the Eagles did break out, the Huskies kept most of their possession to the perimeter. Just before midway of the period, NU tied it up off a long range wrister from Ella Lloyd. MF Holly Abela was a one-woman cycle and possessed the puck around the entire BC zone before getting caught up in the RW corner.. Emy McDermid carried it out of the scrum and from the top of the RW circle found Lloyd at the left point. Lloyd dragged the puck for a stride and let go a heavy wrister from the left point that found home. Tie game.

A late power play for the Eagles (soft call in my opinion but if there’s one thing we can all agree upon is the inconsistency in officiating that these athletes have to deal with), put NU down a player with 49 seconds to play. And as it turned out, BC only needed 9 seconds to pull ahead again.

An Emma Connor shot from low on the RW was deflected in front and went sky high, up and over the slot to come down to the ice surface at Jönsson’s right. But that puck never touched the ice as Sammy Taber showed off her hand/eye and bunted the puck into the open side of the cage. 2-1 BC. I don’t know if Taber’s field hockey back ground helped in this scenario but I’d say that she makes a pretty good argument for being a multi sport athlete.

Early in the 2nd period, the Huskies tied this back up with some pretty slick puck control by freshman Stryker Zablocki. Captain Lily Shannon fed Zablocki in the neutral zone and the freshman was off and running with a behind the back between the legs at almost full stride move at the BC blue line to retain possession. Zablocki carried down the LW and as the BC defender started to lay down to block the cross-crease feed, Zablocki fed Jaden Bogden on the net drive and Bogs tucked it home for the equalizer.

That score held for the remainder of the period despite a number of 4:4 play (Stripes must have known this was a NESN game and had to get their screen time), and you could feel the tension building in the old barn.

The 3rd opened up significantly calmer. Both sides seemed tentative and the play was choppy with a number of icings by both sides. As the period progressed, BC was getting long passes off through the neutral zone but couldn’t get any legit chances on Jönsson. At the other end of the sheet, the Huskies were forcing the puck into the offensive corners, but BC was countering with quick outlets and when the Huskies did get chances, Grace Campbell stood tall in the BC net.

Late in the third, Shanon called game. Zablocki carried down the LW and somehow found Shannon in front through 4 BC defenders for the back-door tap in. Great net drive from Rylie Jones to muck up the slot even more. A great moment from Shannon and fitting that Jones was on the net drive because this past summer at the NU Golf Tourney, Jonesy picked Shannon as the last goal at Matthews. And yes, I’m aware that this wasn’t the FINAL goal, but I’m still giving Jones credit.

Zablocki added an ENG with 40 seconds left and that was all she wrote on the last dance at Matthews. Real quick, can I point out that Zablocki shows amazing skill even on an empty netter? Steals the puck at her own blue line and drags a BC defender and then finds home with 5 defenders around her? C’mon.

There were a lot of moist eyes in the seats and stands and what a way to close down the building for the women’s program! Ranked 6th in the nation, first in Hockey East (by 11pts not a big deal) and knocked off one of their Beanpot counterparts in front of a raucous crowd over 3000 strong. I’d say that was a good sendoff.

Some notes from my last time inside the rink – and by notes, I’m talking about some shine for the graduates:

• Paige Taborski – the consummate teammate. In whatever role she’s been asked to do, Taborski has excelled. It’s tough to be a non-starter but she’s done it with grace and class and proven a role-model athlete.
• MF Holly Abela – the MF stands for mistake free and if you’ve watched Abela over the years you know it’s true. All hustle and all heart she does everything little thing right and impacts the game in all phases.
• Jaden Bogden – oh man I wish you’d spent all your career at NU. A physical presence that plays hard all 200ft and with an edge that I love! Kind of a throwback player in terms of the animosity that she shows her opponents but it’s made me a HUGE fan of 74. Absolute beauty and she was playing hair on fire hockey yesterday.
• Mia Langlois – it took me 4 years, but we finally got there with the Million Dollars Worth of Game nickname. Langlois is one of those players that impacts the game with whatever ice-time she gets. A great offensive sense and will sacrifice the body as well as always engaging and with a great attitude.
• Lily Brazis – speaking of nicknames! The pride of Hockeytown herself, the OG – ladies and gentleman: The Nailgun! Adding speed to her arsenal this off-season, Brazis is playing the best hockey of her career and driving the 3rd line into a weapon. And talk about different personas – the landslide vote getter for best fits plays the most in your face style on the ice.
• Jules Constantinople – this is not hyperbole but Constantinople is playing lights out, top pair, shut down defense while still chipping in offensively. We know about the one-timer, we know about the edge she plays with (on full display yesterday) but now how she closes gaps and sparks outlets also – yeah buddy. Constantinople is at the top of the league in defensive play.
• Lily Shannon – the captain and Hockey East’s leading scorer. It’s been an absolute joy to see Shannon develop over her career. She’s done it all and the hard work is now paying off as she’s getting national notice. Shannon sets the tone and the example and thrives in all situations. An absolute beauty.

And then one last pic as my daughter said goodbye to Matthews as we left last night.

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