Boston College Falls to Northwestern in Season Opener, but Milestones and Bright Spots Emerge
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The season opener didn’t go Boston College’s way, but there were still plenty of moments that gave fans reason to believe this team has the pieces to make noise in 2026. No.
3 BC dropped a tough one to No. 2 Northwestern, 20-12, Friday night at Fish Field House, kicking off the season with a hard-fought loss against one of the nation’s top programs.
The Eagles now sit at 0-1, while Northwestern starts strong at 1-0.
A Gritty Battle from Start to Finish
Boston College found itself in a hole early, trailing 7-2 after the first quarter. But this team didn’t fold.
The Eagles responded with a 4-1 burst in the second quarter, showing the kind of resilience that’s been a hallmark of the program over the years. Marissa White sparked the charge with both of her goals coming in that frame - her first tallies in a BC uniform.
Hanna Davis capped off the run, bringing the home crowd to life with a goal that closed the gap to one.
Northwestern managed to sneak one in with just over a minute left in the half, heading into the break with an 8-6 lead, but BC had clearly found its footing.
The second half, though, belonged to the Wildcats. Northwestern came out of the locker room with a renewed edge, extending the lead to four before Giulia Colarusso stopped the bleeding with a goal that made it 10-7. But the Wildcats rattled off a 6-1 run that spanned into the fourth quarter, building a cushion that BC couldn’t quite chip away.
Standouts and Milestones
Despite the loss, there were several standout performances worth highlighting.
Molly Driscoll led the way on offense, racking up four points on two goals and two assists. The junior attacker was one of four Eagles to score twice, helping to keep the offense moving against a tough Northwestern defense.
In the draw circle, Abbey Herod was a force. She pulled down eight draw controls, surpassing Maura Mahoney to move into eighth all-time in program history with 180. Shea Baker and Avery Hudson each added six draws of their own, with Hudson setting a new career high.
Between the pipes, Shea Dolce hit a major milestone. The veteran goalie notched six saves on the night, pushing her career total past 500 - making her just the third goalie in BC history to reach that mark, joining Megan McEvogue and Katie Monaghan in elite company.
Freshman Caroline Chisholm made her presence felt in her collegiate debut, leading the team with two caused turnovers. Hanna Davis also made a strong first impression, recording a goal and an assist in her first game in maroon and gold.
Kelly Blake had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high two goals, while Colarusso also turned in a career-best two-goal effort.
Looking Ahead
This wasn’t the result Boston College wanted to open the season, but there’s no shame in battling a powerhouse like Northwestern. The Eagles showed flashes of what they’re capable of - from the young talent stepping up to the veterans reaching historic milestones.
Next up: a key ACC matchup against Notre Dame next Friday, back at Fish Field House. With a game under their belt and some valuable lessons learned, expect BC to come out sharper and hungrier.
One game doesn’t define a season - and this group has the tools to bounce back in a big way.