NCAA Hockey: Boston College to Face Northeastern for All the Beans Next Monday

Boston College and Northeastern will battle for Boston bragging rights next Monday night in Beantown.

The fourth-ranked BC Eagles won 4-1 over first-round opponent Harvard last night in the opening round of the 61st Beanpot Tournament at TD Garden in Boston. Quinn Smith scored twice for the Eagles, who also got goals from Florida Panthers draftee Michael Matheson and senior Stephen Whitney, and 19 saves from Parker Milner.

“Quinn is a good hard-nosed checking player for us. You need some real grinders, and he's really good at it,” said head coach Jerry York, via BCEagles.com, of Smith’s first-ever multiple-goal game for the Eagles.

Danny Biega scored the lone goal for Harvard, which has lost its last eight games overall this season, and which last won a Beanpot in 1993. Raphael Girard made 42 saves for the Crimson against BC.

“Obviously, they have a lot of good players and their speed was a factor as the game went on. Their relentlessness on the forecheck gave us trouble,” said Harvard coach Ted Donato to the Boston Herald.

Northeastern freshman forward Kevin Roy scored all three goals for the Huskies, one in each period, including the game-winner with 4:38 remaining in regulation on Monday. Chris Rawlings made 33 saves for NU, which had lost 15 straight Beanpot games against Boston University, and is seeking its first Beanpot title in 25 years.

Three-time defending Beanpot champion BC (16-7-2 overall) will now face Northeastern (8-13-3), which beat 15th-ranked Boston University (13-11-1) by a 3-2 count in the other opening game, next Monday night for the crown.

As for BU, which has won the Beanpot a record 29 times, but not since 2009, it marks the first time since 1965 that a class of Terriers will graduate without having raised the fabled ‘Pot at least once in their careers.

Danny O'Regan and Sahir Gill scored for the Terriers on Monday evening, while Matt O'Connor made 23 saves.

“I feel badly for…my seniors but especially my captain here, Wade (Megan), who’s given us an unbelievable career and won’t get a Beanpot,” said BU coach Jack Parker to the Daily Free Press. “A real disappointing loss for us.”

BU and Harvard will meet in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m. at TD Garden on Feb. 11, while BC and Northeastern will face off afterwards at approximately 7:30 p.m. for this year’s title. The Eagles have won two of their three meetings with the Huskies this season—but the next one is for Boston's sacred silver college trophy.

“It doesn’t matter what you did before,” said Rawlings to the Boston Globe. “Any team can win on any given night. It’s whoever wants it Monday night—and then, the second Monday night.”