A look back at the 2006 team that brought the Eagles their first Beanpot after half a century.
The 2006 Women’s Beanpot championship marked a defining moment in Boston College women’s hockey history. On February 14, 2006, the Eagles captured their first-ever Beanpot title after a 50+ year drought, with a disciplined 2-0 victory over Harvard at Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge. After years of coming close, Boston College finally broke through, earning one of the program’s most significant achievements and establishing itself as a rising force in collegiate women’s hockey.
The Beanpot Tournament is one of Boston’s most prestigious collegiate sporting traditions, featuring Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern. Winning the tournament carries special significance because it crowns the top women’s hockey program in the city each season. Before 2006, Boston College had reached the championship game several times but had never won the trophy, while Harvard dominated the early 2000s, capturing seven consecutive Beanpot championships from 1999 through 2005. Defeating the Crimson therefore represented both the end of Harvard’s reign and the beginning of a new chapter for the Eagles.
Sophomore forward Deborah Spillane delivered a memorable performance in the championship game, scoring both of Boston College’s goals and earning Beanpot Most Valuable Player honors. She wasted little time making an impact, scoring just 37 seconds into the opening period with a powerful slap shot that gave the Eagles an early advantage. Her second goal came just over two minutes into the second period on a breakaway, extending the lead to 2-0, and providing Boston College with a comfortable cushion. Spillane’s offensive production reflected her importance to the team throughout the season, as she consistently led the Eagles in scoring and stepped up in the biggest moments.
While Spillane supplied the offense, senior goaltender Alison Quandt anchored the defensive effort. Facing a determined Harvard attack, Quandt stopped all 23 shots she faced to record a shutout in the championship game. Her calm play and timely saves frustrated the Crimson throughout the contest and earned her the Bertagna Award as the tournament’s top goaltender. Strong defensive play from the entire Boston College lineup complemented Quandt’s performance, as the Eagles successfully protected their lead for the final two periods despite sustained pressure from Harvard.
The victory had lasting significance for the Boston College program. Winning its first Beanpot championship validated years of improvement and demonstrated that the Eagles could compete with the nation’s elite programs. Rather than being a one-time success, the 2006 championship launched an era of sustained excellence. Boston College successfully defended its title in 2007 and went on to win multiple additional Beanpot championships over the following decade, becoming one of the tournament’s most successful programs. The breakthrough in 2006 remains a landmark achievement because it transformed Boston College from a perennial contender into a championship program and laid the foundation for future success in the Beanpot.