(19Dec98)  Saturday evening at Conte Forum, the Boston College Eagles were
defeated by the Huskies of Northeastern 1-5.  It was a match largely
controlled by NU's continuous pressure.  The Eagles did manage some nice
breaking plays, but were mainly kept in this game by the adept performance of
fresher goalie Sharon Vantuyl.
 
The contest started with Northeastern pouring into the BC zone.  Large
sections of play were dominated by the forceful fore-checking of the Huskies.
Boston College was using a cautious technic that kept their risks low.  Early
on, first-year Brooke Whitney (Erine Metcalf, Kelly Martin) redirected a blast
from the point by Metcalf to make it 0-1 NU.  However, with the Huskies' flat
attack and miserable off the puck movement, the Eagles were able to close out
the rest of the period.
 
The second was slow and sleepy.  Northeastern continued to press, but their
lack of finishing and less than effervescent movement provided little
entertainment.  During a spell of four on four hockey, Whitney (Hilary Witt,
Erica Archambeau) made it 0-2 when she was left alone to circle in the Eagle
zone and fire home low.
 
As the final interval began, both teams were mucking away.  NU pressed forward
again, but BC countered with some nice up and down plays.  Suddenly, a series
of lovely setup passes from Northeastern blew the match wide open.  Witt
(Whitney, Jaime Totten) made it 0-3 when she took the perfect feed from
Whitney and rammed it into the back of the net.  The play was started by
fresher defender Archambeau who had surged forward on a Husky attack and left
BC at sixes and sevens.  Boston College came back with a power play effort
from first-year Jane Jorge (Jaclyn Kryzak).  The Eagles connected with a slick
out of the corner play.  The Huskies nailed a power play goal of their own
when Lisa Giovanelli (Jennie Setaro, Jennifer Santerre) converted a crisp
cross-ice feed from the point, by Setaro, to the far post.  Lovely goal.
Giovanelli (Santerre, Brooke White) completed the scoring at 1-5 when she took
the puck from a face-off and executed the old fade right, shoot left play.
 
Northeastern's fore-checking game continues in excellent form.  But with
nobody torquing it in front of net, the Husky finishing continues horrendous.
You have to wonder when some of the players who clearly have the touch to
score are going to snap out of it and let it rip.  Right now, Northeastern
lacks the killer edge.  If and when they find it, they could be a marvelous
team to watch and a dangerous side to play.  The line of fresher Nicole Lewis,
Colleen Coen and Betsy Dyke looked very good together.  Lewis motored really
well at both ends of the ice and has a gift for taking the puck and going with
it.  Santerre was another attacker who moved and held on to the puck well.
She is also turning into a top shelf face-off artist.  Whitney was leading the
top line with her skilled dishes.  Erika Silva did not face many shots, but
did come up big during the final minutes of the match to preserve the margin
of victory.  Kim Beneduce produced a tough, heads-up style on the blue line
that thwarted the Eagles.  Captain fantastic Totten pressed forward and dug
back well with her poke-check skills.  The woman of the match was Archambeau.
This kid is so confident and strong on defense, it is fun to watch.  She
anticipates the play well and is fearless with her sorties.  Overall, the
Huskies must be happy with a maximum point weekend, but less than thrilled
with their presentation to date.
 
The trivializing of sport with loud pop music at every stoppage of play was
unfortunately in fashion at Boston College.
 
"To accept the standard of one's age is a form of the grossest immorality."
 
-O. Wilde
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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