Women's Hockey: Nadia Mattivi Profile
By Ricky Maloney -- October 8, 2023
Though Nadia Mattivi is now playing her fifth season for the Boston University women’s hockey team, she can still recall the first time she wore the Scarlet and White.
“It was just an incredible memory, putting on the jersey for the first time,” said Mattivi. “I will always remember.”
The standout defender is going into her final year at BU and said her first game of this season will resurface some of the same feelings as her 2019 debut.
“A lot of emotions in both scenarios,” said Mattivi. “I probably won’t be able to tell the difference between nervous and excited at first, but I think it’ll just take one shift and I’ll be good, whereas maybe in my first game it took a period.”
As the longest-tenured player on the roster, Mattivi also owns the role of captain (now co-captain with senior Madison Cardaci) for the second year in a row, which she has not taken for granted.
“Coming from Italy, I never expected that I would get this position,” said Mattivi. “It’s a huge honor. I was so extremely happy that my teammates and the coaches believed in me.”
One of those coaches is first-year head coach Tara Watchorn, who likes what she has seen thus far from Mattivi as a leader.
“I think she’s done a great job,” said Watchorn. “She wants to work with you, she wants to get better, and I think that willingness, that passion, is definitely a good thing.”
Watchorn worked with Mattivi for two years (2019-2021) as an assistant at BU before her time as head coach at Stonehill College (2021-2023). Now back at her alma mater, Watchorn was excited to reunite with the star player in her new role.
“It’s really cool,” said Watchorn. “Because I had that pre-existing relationship with Nadia, I felt like we were really able to hit the ground running and kind of pick up where we left off and continue to build that relationship.”
While praising the “hugely important” Mattivi, coach Watchorn also made sure to give credit to the entire leadership group of this year’s squad. This includes assistant captain and senior Lacey Martin, who has been teammates with Mattivi since her freshman year in 2020-21.
Martin gave Mattivi a ringing endorsement, both as a teammate in-game and as a peer outside of hockey.
“She’s a real pro,” said Martin. “She conducts herself in a very professional manner on and off the ice and we all look to her to set the standard. She also is a great friend to lean on when you need it.”
While Mattivi also spoke highly about her fellow leaders and those close to her on the team, she said some of her fondest memories at BU were because of her loved ones from home.
“[My parents have] only come twice, and it’s always so nice to see them in the stands, especially when I know that they’re staying up all night to watch games back in Italy,” said Mattivi. “I remember every game that I played when they were in the stands. That meant a lot to me.”
And the feeling of home has stayed on her mind as Mattivi ponders about her future in the sport. Five years ago, she played hockey in Sweden, and has considered returning for the “pretty high” level of competition and closer proximity to where she grew up.
However, Mattivi also mentioned the possibility of entering the draft for the new Professional Women’s Hockey League that kicks off with six teams in the U.S. and Canada, including one in Boston, early next year.
Whether her career continues in North America or Europe is yet to be seen, but either way she would “definitely want to continue playing hockey.”
For now, Mattivi and her BU teammates look to bounce back from their 11-20-3 record last year for a successful sendoff for the captain.
As for coach Watchorn, she’s already shown confidence in Mattivi’s upcoming season, and the legacy that she will leave behind.
“We’re very much still in the early stages,” said Watchorn. “But I have no doubt in my mind she’s going to leave a great mark.
Men's Hockey: Dissecting Away Games
By Ricky Maloney -- October 18, 2023
The Boston University men’s hockey team won’t see a regular season game on their home ice until the fourth weekend of play this year, and so far the away stretch has proved challenging.
The Terriers started the 2023-24 season victorious at Bentley University, but it took a Lane Hutson overtime goal to do so for what was the top-seeded team in the nation. Last weekend, BU let up six goals in a loss at the University of New Hampshire, followed by another eight in their exhibition against the United States Under-18 squad.
Falling into sixth place in national rankings, assistant captain and senior forward Luke Tuch shouldered the blame for the team’s recent struggles.
“We got to help our defensemen out, help our goalie out,” said Tuch. “We left them out to dry last game, and I think just sticking to our structure is the biggest thing for us.”
A veteran for the Terriers, Tuch went on to say that the leadership group is focusing on togetherness as they look to bounce back from their woes.
“That’s what this week of practice is all about, is clicking and intertwining better, and playing better as a team,” he said. “We got a lot of good talent, but I don’t think our talent means anything if the opposition is outworking us.”
Part of that talent, freshman defenseman Tom Willander, agreed that individuality is not the way to win, and that BU’s veteran players are helping to avoid that.
“They really bring in the group, so I feel like we have great chemistry,” said Willander. He continued to say that part of the leadership group’s advice was “to have a lot of fun when we play–just don’t feel too much pressure.”
Tuch echoed the same sentiment regarding pressure, downplaying the target on the team’s back as they started the season as NCAA’s number one men’s hockey team.
“There’s definitely some pressure coming in, but I think pressure is a privilege,” said Tuch. Any time you’re slotted at number one, you’re number one for a reason. We got to prove to each other in the room that we’re worth the number one spot.”
The pressure stays on as BU heads to Notre Dame this weekend to play the Fighting Irish on back-to-back nights in Indiana. The Terriers, who had a successful 10-4 record in away games last year, remain optimistic and look forward to traveling again.
Tuch recognized the challenge in going up against Notre Dame’s “well-structured” roster, and relishes the chance to play in their lively atmosphere.
“It’ll probably be pretty rowdy,” said Tuch. “It’s going to be a good test for our team, and we’re really excited.”
Willander said it’s “just the way the group comes together” that excites him about road trips like this. “It’s obviously a lot of fun traveling with your teammates and friends; I think it builds a lot of chemistry,” he said.
Tuch spoke on team chemistry as well, saying that time together in the plane and hotels on the road is one of the best aspects of the sport. In the upcoming games, the squad looks to improve results, and stay by each other’s sides.
“You’re going through tough times, but you need to stick together,” said Tuch. “I think any time you’re together on and off the ice is huge for us, because that bond truly is special.”
Women's Basketball: Season Preview
By Ricky Maloney -- October 26, 2023
Going 24-9 but falling short in the Patriot League Championship last season, the Boston University women’s basketball team looks to get over the hump as the 2023-24 campaign kicks off soon.
Terriers head coach Melissa Graves said the 66-61 loss to Holy Cross that caused BU to miss the national tournament will be a motivator throughout the upcoming season.
“We’re playing with a chip,” said Graves. “I’m excited for the potential to hopefully get back to that position and just be a little bit better this time.”
Part of the challenge for this BU team to get back to a PL Final comes in the amount of roster turnover this offseason. With eight new players through both freshmen and transfers, the five returning Terriers have the responsibility of showing them the ropes, according to Graves.
“They’re doing such a good job in their leadership,” she said. “This preseason, I feel like we’ve really taken off, and we’re really getting used to playing together.”
One of these returners is junior guard Alex Giannaros, who Graves said has “put our younger point guards and combos under [her] wing.” As one of the few who took part in last year’s run, Giannaros is aware of the learning curve that might take place to start this season, but remains optimistic.
“I think there’s just a lot of teaching right now,” said Giannaros. “We played at a fast pace last year, we want to play at an even faster pace this year. Bringing those new girls along, having the returners help them and kind of grow in that aspect–there’s a lot to be excited about in the future.”
So far, the team is confident in the chemistry that has been built despite new faces outnumbering familiar ones. Natalie Jasper, a junior guard who just transferred from Georgetown, said being on the court together has gotten more comfortable over time.
“I think everybody at first was still getting their feelers out and seeing what the vibe of practice would be like,” said Jasper. “But we mesh really well now.”
Jasper, who said regular season and conference championships are well within this team’s capabilities, is also on the same page as her head coach in terms of the attitude surrounding the team following a disappointing end to last season.
“It’s definitely more like a revenge type of vibe,” said Jasper. “We’re not going to let it slip away again like it did last season. We all have our eyes on the same prize, so we’re all really focused.”
As a player who experienced the loss first-hand, Giannaros echoed the same focus for the Terriers this year.
“Especially for the returners, we have a hunger that we’ve never had before,” said Giannaros. “After losing last year, it’s just a different type of drive.”
Their drive will be put to the test for the first time Nov. 6 as BU takes on UMass Lowell at home. As for what this team can accomplish this season, Giannaros sets the bar high for the new-look squad.
“The goal is always to win a Patriot League Championship,” she said. “Whatever we got to do to get that, I know everyone’s going to put in 100 percent.”
Men's Soccer: Undefeated at Home
By Ricky Maloney -- October 31, 2023
With a 3-1 win over Loyola Maryland Saturday, BU men’s soccer didn’t just take over the top spot in the Patriot League standings–they also finalized an undefeated regular season in home games.
In addition, this final match at Nickerson Field before the Patriot League Tournament celebrated Senior Day. Colin Innes, a grad student and midfielder for the Terriers, spoke to the significance of the result given the circumstances.
“This place has done a lot for all of us seniors,” said Innes. “We’ve always tried to return the favor and do a lot for them. To get a big win, to put us into first going into the last matchday, it means everything to us.”
Innes made sure to give the supporters a show by scoring the go-ahead goal on a dazzling free kick with just under 14 minutes left to play, then giving a Michael Jordan-esque shrug towards the bleachers as his teammates surrounded him.
With rowdy cheers throughout the game during this special occasion, Innes credited BU fans for helping to spur the players on in the comeback victory.
“Obviously, your friends coming to the game, your parents coming to the game–this is the loudest I think it’s been all season,” said Innes. “Having them pushing us forward in the last 15 minutes to get the game-winning goal and then score another one, it gives us all the boost we need.”
Head coach Kevin Nylen agreed with his player, saying the BU community has been a helpful factor at home games this year.
“More fans, more supporters, that’s always a good thing,” said Nylen. “Today was a good day in terms of people coming to support, whether it’s in the department, on campus, other student athletes–I mean, that’s huge.”
Six wins at home is the most for BU in a single season since 2016 (7), and now the Terriers are guaranteed to host at least a semifinal match in the Patriot League Tournament. Innes said the familiar territory will give BU a one-up against their eventual opponents.
“We’ve played here so much that every season it gets tougher and tougher to win here for the other teams,” said Innes. “We just keep getting more used to the conditions and it’s a big advantage if we can host the semifinals and hopefully the finals as well.”
Innes said for now, it’s still “one game at a time” for the Terriers, something that his coach also made sure to point out before the team starts thinking about the playoffs.
“Enjoy this, recover, and now we got to look and focus on Army,” said Nylen.
The matchup against Army West Point Wednesday will determine whether or not BU finishes as the top seed in the conference, a spot that would grant them home field advantage for the rest of the season.
Now able to control their own destiny, Innes said the team is looking to stay calm before an important final game in New York.
“This was a big game, next game will be a big game, but we have to approach it like it’s just any other game,” said Innes. “Continue to do what we do and I think everything will work itself out.”
Men's Basketball: Replacing Walter Whyte
By Ricky Maloney -- November 10, 2023
With the departure of star wing Walter Whyte, Boston University men’s basketball lost a six-year veteran, a prominent voice on the team, and their leading scorer. But, they didn’t lose confidence.
Whyte, who graduated after the 2022-23 season, finished his career with the Terriers in the top 10 for rebounds (836), points (1,696), and three-pointers (192) in the school’s history. Such a loss isn’t fixed easily, according to sophomore forward Otto Landrum, but he and his teammates are up to the challenge.
“I think it’s just a buy-in thing,” said Landrum. “You lose someone with so much production, you bring back a bunch of people who didn’t really do a ton last year, and you just sort of have to fill that void by being competitive and tough through the entire season.”
Landrum himself seems to be someone head coach Joe Jones will turn to for an increased role, as through one game this year (a 67-58 loss to Northeastern on Monday) he has already matched his number of starts in 2022-23 and played 18 minutes–eight more than he averaged last season.
Landrum said Jones has adapted to the new-look roster well so far, working with many players who will need to step up in Whyte’s absence.
“Because we bring in six new guys and three sophomores that got iffy play time last year, you sort of put yourself in this situation as a coach to have to be different,” said Landrum. “I think Coach Jones has adjusted really well to that. We all bought into what he wants to say, we just have to compete harder every night.”
Sophomore guard Ben Roy of BU–who also saw a significant uptick in minutes in the Terriers’ first game (14) compared to his last season average (5.3)–said the coaching staff has also emphasized the importance of working as a unit after losing a key starter.
“[The coaches] are just instilling that it’s a team culture, it’s not just about one individual,” said Roy. “So everyone’s got to do what they’re supposed to do to help us reach the goal that we want to reach.”
Two players that fit nicely into their role in their debut were freshmen Kyrone Alexander and Matai Baptiste, who led the team in scoring with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Roy said performances like that from these young players could serve as helpful additions to the team.
“They provide a lot of versatility for us; they can guard multiple positions,” said Roy. “Every game it’s going to be different guys–we have 11 guys who contribute. But they were great, and hopefully we can feed off those two in that game and bounce back on Friday.”
Landrum echoed the same praise for the newcomers, having high expectations for them this year and going forward.
“Kyrone and Matai are incredibly good basketball players,” said Landrum. “It’s actually inevitable that they’re going to be pros one day. Both of those guys are going to be huge outlets for us this year.”
Of course, gelling this BU team post-Whyte will take more than just one game, with many players seeing the court more often or putting on the jersey for the first time this year. But both Landrum and Roy believe a championship is within reach for the 2023-24 Terriers, given a possible learning curve early in the season.
“Ultimately, we just got to grow as a team–we’re so new and a lot of people still don’t really know how to play with each other yet,” said Roy. “But I think we got the right group of guys, I think it’s going to work out in the long run, it’s just going to take some time.”
Women's Basketball: Midseason Performances
By Ricky Maloney -- December 12, 2023
Boston University women’s basketball played two of their final games leading up to their 11 day break this week, and they were not without some excitement and harsh lessons.
Both matches were played at home for the Terriers, who have just returned from Colorado after playing the Buffaloes, a team currently ranked number eight in the nation. Despite the 85-55 scoreline, BU head coach Melissa Graves believes the team took some positives away from the tough opponent.
“We can definitely hang with that level of team,” said Graves. “I thought in Colorado we put together a great three quarters where we hung with them, and then in the fourth quarter it was like a 30-4 quarter. So we talked a lot about trying to play a full 40 and have a complete game.”
However, it seemed the Terriers’ late-game performance carried over to their Tuesday faceoff against Saint Joseph’s University, as they found themselves in a double-digit hole in the first half that they were never able to fully overcome, resulting in a 62-47 defeat.
Three-point shooting plagued BU, as they failed to make a single one of their five attempts in the first half and finished the game with just one make from beyond the arc.
Trouble in the paint also arose after sophomore forward Anete Adler left the game due to injury inside the first four minutes. She had scored all of BU’s six points up until then. Coach Graves, however, was impressed by her players’ ability to push onward.
“[Adler] came out really dominant,” said Graves. “I think she’s obviously disappointed that she didn’t get to finish the game. But I don’t think we necessarily held our heads down … so I was really proud of that effort.”
After the loss, Graves pointed out that the learning experience was beneficial, saying there were “some things that we can take away, and then obviously some things to work on too.”
Those takeaways were put to the test Saturday as BU hosted Harvard University, looking to bounce back from their first home loss of the 2023-24 season after starting with a four-game win streak.
Instantly, there was a noticeable improvement in the Terriers’ offense, as they nearly matched their total points scored against Saint Joseph’s with 42 in just the first half. The first bucket of which was perhaps the most meaningful, as senior forward Caitlin Weimar hit a layup to reach 1,000 points scored in her collegiate career–856 of those coming in her three-year stint at BU.
“It was in my mind for a second, but then you just continue the game,” said Weimar. “It’s exciting though, I’m happy.”
But that wasn’t nearly the last we’d see of Weimar in this game. She’d go on to score 29 on the game along with 10 rebounds and five assists.
The most reliable source of offense against the Crimson, Weimar’s teammates fed the hot hand late in the fourth quarter as she scored five consecutive points to help stop Harvard’s run. Once down by 18 in the third, the visitors at one point led by three with just a few minutes to go.
Despite Weimar’s incredible performance, it was freshman guard Audrey Ericksen who played the role of hero in the final minute, hitting the last field goal of the game on a mid-range jumper with 31 seconds left.
“I think the whole game we had a really good flow going and everyone had such confidence in each other,” said Ericksen. “I had confidence this game because of my teammates and their trust in me and their ability to talk me through the entire game–it didn’t feel like there was 30 seconds left, it felt like a normal shot.”
After the 80-77 victory, a proud Graves called the performance a “total team effort,” adding that “everyone who came in contributed in a positive way.” And though Harvard was seemingly one buzzer-beater attempt away from sending the game to overtime, the shot was a sort of microcosm for Graves’ confidence throughout the game in her team’s ability to win. She was never worried.
“It looked like her foot was on the line,” Graves said through a laugh, as she ended her postgame press conference.