This past March, Boston College women’s hockey fell short of the Frozen Four for the first time in four years. But there’s every reason to believe that the Eagles will be back in the National Semifinals, and even the title game, this coming season.
Not only will BC return Daryl Watts and Caitrin Lonergan, the nation’s top two leading scorers, but head coach Katie Crowley will also welcome back Megan Keller, Kali Flanagan, and Cayla Barnes—all of whom were part of Team U.S.A.’s 2018 Olympic gold-medal run in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Factor in six new recruits, and you have one of the most talented rosters in the NCAA.
On Wednesday, the 11-year coach revealed the icing on the cake: Former Minnesota forward Lindsay Agnew, who still has two years of eligibility remaining, will join the Eagles for the upcoming season.
“We’re very excited to add Lindsay to our program,” Crowley told BCEagles.com. “We have always liked the way that Lindsay plays the game, and we’re really looking forward to seeing her make an immediate impact here at BC as both a player and a person.”
Interestingly enough, Agnew arrived on Minnesota’s campus the year after the Golden Gophers defeated BC in the National Championship, spoiling the Eagles’ perfect season. In 2016-17, the Oakville, Ontario native made her collegiate debut, recording three goals and five assists in her freshman campaign—one that culminated in a Frozen Four appearance.
This past season, Agnew put up similar numbers, lighting the lamp five times and setting up eight other scoring plays, en route to a 13-point season. Unfortunately for the Gophers, the team’s journey back to the Promised Land came to a halt against Wisconsin in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. When all was said and done, Agnew logged three multi-point outings and assisted or scored on three game-winning goals during her time at Minnesota.
On the national level, the forward has the championship pedigree that any coach looks for. Agnew is a two-time world silver medalist for Canada’s Under-18 Team and, just this past year, was playing with the country’s National Development Team.
Considering the fact that BC already has four 20-plus-point scorers on its roster and a handful of others poised to make a jump in 2018-19, there’s no telling how much of a role the Ontario product will play this season. Yet there’s no denying that Agnew’s battle-tested, and for a team that has struggled to produce in the postseason, her playmaking ability could very well come in handy when the Eagles need it most.
Featured Image by Bradley Smart / Heights Editor
