Opinion - A Social Must

The Beanpot, if you haven't heard of it, is a hockey tournament featuring the four Boston area schools: Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, and Northeastern. If recent traditions hold, the loudest Harvard fans will be the folks wearing Eagles and Huskies jerseys arriving early for the 8pm game because Harvard is the lesser of two evils when it comes to a game featuring their conference rival BU, but also because not many student fans from Harvard bother to make the trip.

But it wasn't always this way. "Snooks" Kelley once called this "A social must. ... Four schools separated by the Charles River and the length and breadth of Commonwealth Avenue, regardless of records. Nobody wins who's supposed to win." Harvard fans filled the then-Boston Garden, now replaced by the TD Garden, just as much as any school. Now there's a small smattering of Crimson support, including the band, in Harvard's section in the upper seats - but not nearly the level of support the three Hockey East schools bring.

And that's a shame. Harvard hasn't won a Beanpot in a long time, dating back to 1993, it's true. (Though Northeastern's fans render that excuse, if you were wont to give it, moot. It's been since 1988 for the Huskies and their Dog Pound is there through it all.) That doesn't mean Harvard fans wouldn't have gotten their money's worth.

Take the 2008 Beanpot for example. The Crimson advanced past Northeastern in the opening round, only to fall just short in the Championship, a 6-5 OT loss to Boston College, who went on to win the NCAA tournament. Or the next year, when Harvard jumped out to a lead on a Boston University squad that had just been ranked #1 in the nation that morning. BU came back to take a 4-3 lead, but Harvard seemingly tied it at the dying moment on a point shot from Alex Biega that sent the Garden into a frenzy. Alas, while it was not to be, as the puck crossed the line moments too late, the game was a tremendous battle against the eventual national champions. Last year, Harvard's hot streak to close out the 2010-11 season began with a come from behind victory to upset BU 5-4 in the consolation round on Valentine's Day.

This year's game promises to be great as well. BU and Harvard already met once, and after a 3-1 Harvard lead, the Terriers came back to win 4-3 in OT at the Bright Center last week. Crimson fans fear not...one of the biggest sports cliches is that it's always harder to beat a team twice. In addition, this is the Beanpot's big 6-0 celebration. The first Beanpot, back in December of 1952, went to the Crimson, who defeated BC 3-2 in OT at Boston (now Matthews) Arena before defeating BU 7-4 to claim the first ever Beanpot championship. It'll be a time to reminisce about Harvard's Beanpot lore, like how Crimson legend Billy Cleary still holds the records for most goals in a period (4), game (5) and tournament (7). But it'll also be a chance to see this current Harvard squad as they skate with one of the top teams in the nation while gearing up for the final stretch of what's been a great ECAC season so far, and a chance to see the nation's top PP look to haunt the Terriers.

This has been a year for revived traditions among the Harvard student section. Chickens were thrown at Cornell (not that we condone that sort of thing here at WHRB) for the 1st time in decades. So let's see a large Harvard student section revive the tradition of making the Beanpot a game with a lot of Crimson in the stands. Let's see that same student spirit displayed at Harvard Stadium (or the Yale Bowl) cheering the Ivy League champion football team on to victory. Bring the "I Believe" and the "Winning Team/Losing Team" chants from the sold out Lavietes Pavilion that supports Harvard basketball every weekend. And combine that with the chants of "It's all your fault, SIEVE" that ring through the Bright Center during home games when students are on campus. The Beanpot can be "The Game," Harvard-Cornell hockey, and last year's Harvard-Princeton Ivy championship playoff all in one - if there's enough student support.

It's time to make this a social must again for students in Cambridge. Harvard students (seniors especially - it's your last chance) need to come out and support this team on the first two Mondays in February. Make sure there's a Crim-zone ready to face down those folks from Comm Ave. Let them know the Cantabs want to bring the Beanpot back to this side of the Charles.


Tickets are available at a discount for students in dining halls during lunch and at the Murr Center with your HUID.
Mon, Jan. 30 – Dunster House

Tues, Jan. 31 – Quincy House

Wed, Feb. 1 – Annenberg Hall

Thurs, Feb. 2 – Adams House

Fri, Feb. 3 – Leverett House

Game time on Mon. Feb. 6th is 5pm vs. BU. The final round takes place at either 4:30pm or 7:30pm. If you really can't make it, tune in on WHRB.

Harvard and BC To Meet at Fenway for Beanpot Title

Photo Courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications.

What: 22nd Annual Baseball Beanpot Championship
When: Tuesday, April 26th at 7 p.m.
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Coverage: Beginning at 6:45 p.m. on 95.3 FM WHRB and WHRB.org with Bryan Dunmire (play by play), Brendan Roche and Charlie Hobbes (color commentary)

The Teams
Harvard (9-31, 5-11 Ivy): It's been a tough year for Harvard baseball to say the least. The Crimson started with a nine-game losing streak and came out of an arduous road trip of 1 home game in the first 22 of the season well below .500. The Ivy League has gone little better with Harvard 5 games out behind Red Rolfe division leading Dartmouth thanks to a 5-11 mark that places the Crimson squarely at the bottom of the Ancient Eight. With only four games remaining in conference play, an Ivy title is already out of grasp, but Harvard can still be champions with a win at America's Most Beloved Ballpark.
Boston College (14-24, 6-14 ACC): After two wins in Caravelle Resort Tournament to open the season, the Eagles fell somewhat flat, going 4-7 in the state of Florida to round out non-conference play (4-8 if you count a 6-0 shutout at the hands of the split-squad Red Sox, though that hardly seems fair to count). BC had some success as they headed back to New England, but a loss at Dartmouth started a streak where BC has only one once in their last ten tries. That one win came in the Beanpot though and the Eagles will hope that the Beanpot magic that's been at Chestnut Hill all year will snap them out of their current four game snide. At 7.5 games back with 9 conference games remaining, ACC hopes are still technically alive, but it looks like the only way BC can earn a championship this year is for the final leg of the Beanpot Triple Crown.

How They Got Here
Harvard took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as three pitchers combined for a five-hit 1-0 shutout over Massachusetts. Despite outhitting the Minutemen by a count of 10-5, the Crimson could not get on the board until the ninth inning, when Danny Moskovits hit a one-out single to send home baserunner Jack Colton, who had gotten on with a walk and then advanced to second on a sac bunt. Andrew Hatch (2-0), of LSU and Harvard football lore, got credit for the win, going 3 innings with 3 Ks and 4 hits allowed in relief.
Earlier last Wednesday, Boston College saw nine different pitchers combine for 11 Ks and only one run allowed as the Eagles defeated Northeastern 6-1. Nate Bayuk (4-4) picked up the win with his inning in the 6th. After the Eagles (2nd inning) and Huskies (4th inning) traded a run, the Eagles exploded for 5 runs in the 6th to seal the win.

Last Wins in Beanpot
Harvard: 2005 (longest current drought of all 4 schools)
Boston College: 2010

Common Opponents
Common opponents were Bryant, Northeastern and Holy Cross. Harvard is 0-5 against common opponents and Boston College is 2-2.  Harvard has yet to play an ACC opponent this season while Boston College is 0-1 against Ivy teams.

Harvard Gets Elusive Beanpot Win

Peter Starrett (left, 14) celebrates his first collegiate point while teammate Danny Biega (center) celebrates his game tying goal in the 3rd period of the Beanpot consolation game. Photo courtesy of the Harvard Department of Athletics.

In years past, the consolation game of the Beanpot used to be a chance to test out the kids coming up through the ranks. Tales of the JV squad taking to the early game abound in Beanpot legend but JV has given way to club hockey (complete with its own club Beanpot) so the practice is no longer continued. Still, Ted Donato would have been forgiven if, in a not tremendously important nonconference game in front of friends and family at the TD Garden, he had gone with a youth movement and let players like John Caldwell, Dan Fick and Raphael Girard see the ice. The starting line-up, though, showed that would not be the tactic, as Donato mixed his starters to trot out a mostly senior starting line-up. Among the first six for the Crimson, it was the two co-captains, Michael Del Mauro and Chris Huxley, as well as P.O. Michaud and Michael Biega, with Ryan Carroll tending the net. The lone non-senior was underused Peter Starrett, with the junior making just his 17th appearance for the Crimson. It was clear that instead of a youth movement, Donato wanted to give his seniors one last chance for a Beanpot win. That decision ultimately delivered.

Head below the jump for more

Harvard Women's Hockey Advances to Beanpot Final

For the second time in as many games, the No. 10 Harvard Women's Hockey team (13-8-3, 12-4-2 ECAC) came from behind to defeat the unranked Northeastern Huskies (14-9-6, 6-7-4 Hockey East) 2-1 in a shootout, after ending regulatoin and a 5-minute overtime period tied 3-3. The Crimson looked sluggish throughout the first period, allowing 13 shots and 2 goals by the Huskies, compared to the Crimson's 9 shots (and 0 goals). Errant passing and poor puck-handling also plagued the Crimson through the opening frame.

Starting in the second period, however, the Crimson begam to fight their way back. After digging themselves into a 3-0 hole, Harvard did not allow the Huskies another shot in the second, and--thanks to a laser from senior co-captain Kate Buesser--responded with a goal of their own. But despite a 10-1 Harvard advantage in shots during the period, Huskies' netminder Leah Sulyma continued to look virtually impregnable.

But in the 55th minute, everything fell apart for the Northeastern Huskies. The Crimson struck twice in quick succession--58 seconds, to be precise--on shots from senior forward Ashley Wheeler and freshman defender Marissa Gedman. After an inconclusive 5-minute overtime, the Crimson sealed the comeback with a pair of shootout goals from sophomores Jillian Dempsey and Josephine Pucci. Crimson goalie Laura Bellamy saved three of four in the shootout. Overall, Harvard held a 35-18 advantage in shots--and allowed only 5 in the second and third periods combined.

Next Tuesday at 8 PM, the Harvard Crimson will face the Boston College Eagles at Conte Forum, BC's home arena, for the Beanpot Championship. The No. 7 ranked Eagles unseated the No. 3 BU Terriers 2-1 to advance, despite being outshot 34-14. Bryan Dummire and Charlie Hobbs will have the call of the championship game live on WHRB, beginning at 7:45 with the pregame.

Postgame Reactions from the 32nd Annual Women's Beanpot

This past Tuesday, the #5 Harvard Crimson and #8 Northeastern Huskies squared off at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge for the 32nd Annual Women's Beanpot. It was a closely contested game between the two programs with the most Beanpot wins in women's hockey, but ultimately, the Harvard Crimson prevailed to take their second Beanpot in three years and 13th overall title. Below, we have some views from the booth, along with highlights from the postgame press conference.