#1 Boston College Sweeps Merrimack, Skarupa Notches 100!

The #1 ranked Boston College Eagles took the ice for the second time in two days against the Merrimack Warriors. BC came into the weekend after defeating BU on the road 4-3 last Saturday, while Merrimack earned a 2-2 overtime tie with UConn recently. Last night in North Andover the Eagles and Warriors were locked in a defense battle, both Katie Burt and Sam Ridgewell played well in net. Ridgewell for her part saved 53 shots on net, while Burt earned her eight shutout of the season. The Eagles would get some offense in the second period when Megan Keller and Toni Ann Miano notched blue line goals. BC would continue to pepper shots on net but would not convert for any more than the two in the second. BC would need a strong performance in game two, after only scoring two their lowest season game high.

In game two Boston College hosted its annual Skating Strides game, which raises money and awareness to Breast Cancer research. The Eagles came out with a different lineup, Gabriella Switaj got the start in net and Meghan Grieves moved her way to the top line along side Alex Carpenter and Kenzie Kent. After a wonderful rendition of the national anthem, a ceremonial puck drop with the captains of both teams and a breast cancer survivor the game would begin in a great atmosphere at Kelly Rink. BC came out strong, firing shots on Ridgewell, but yet again the Merrimack freshman would be solid in net. Merrimack had a few chances as well but nothing that Switaj struggled with. The Warriors were playing well to start the game as well until the Eagles earned their first power play on the afternoon; at that point BC had been outshooting Merrimack 8-1. Within six seconds into the advantage, Makenna Newkirk deked her way into the slot and snuck it past Ridgewell. After almost 10 minutes of BC peppering shots on net the Eagles were awarded another penalty when Beatrice Dufour went to the sin bin for interference. The power play unit for the Eagles features Haley Skarupa, who had all four goals in the win over BU and quietly has had a sensational season. Skarupa would score on the power play and the Eagles would match their total from the night prior leading 2-0. BC outshot Merrimack 25-4 in the first, but the story here isn’t the big win by the Eagles, it’s the coaching done by BC.

The Eagles are a talented team but today was a demonstration of excellent coaching. After a tough game where some would say the Eagles may have taken Merrimack lightly, I’d say it was just a great performance for Samantha Ridgewell. 55 shots in a game is a lot, and BC does not do that often but when they do, its important to note when a goalie is playing well and Ridgewell deserves all the credit. It was like Chuli in the Hockey East tournament v. UConn, BC put 54 shots on her and only scored 3 to advance to the finals. Today, Coach Crowley and her staff put together the best game plan to win and the team executed. In the next two periods Boston College would show why they are the #1 team in the country. BC would continue to play well and spend a lot of time in the attacking zone. BC scored another goal in the second period and held 39-6 shot advantage going into the third. Merrimack struggled to clear the defensive zone, and was out paced by the Eagles. Merrimack a first year DI hockey program has two juniors, as the lone upperclassman on the team. The Warriors have three wins on the season and for most who believed that this program would possibly go winless, they have shown why it will be a prominent program in the future.

BC head coach Katie Crowley has been at the helm for nine seasons for the Eagles, after being part of the staff prior at the Heights. In the win against Syracuse, Crowley would notch her 200th career win, and continues to display why she is a hockey mastermind. The Eagles today held Merrimack to eight total shots and spent over 45 minutes of game time in the attacking zone. BC on the power play would finish 2-3 with 10 of their total 55 shots coming off the advantage. The team responded after a close call with the Warriors in the night prior. In the matchup with the Warriors the Eagles outshot them 110-18, and scored six goals in game two and earned Switaj her first career shutout. The staff continued to be involved in the game throughout, being seen calling plays to the lines from the bench. BC is a motivated team and this could be the season things are different for the Eagles, but only time will tell. A big game against Harvard looms on Tuesday, for a mid week top 10 match up. Bright Landry will be rocking so the Eagles should come prepared for this one, coach Crowley said, “It’s a rivalry game, they don’t need motivation to get pumped up for this one!” After gave BC their first loss last season, as well as their last loss in the NCAA Frozen Four.

Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW