BC women win first Beanpot

No better way to build a hockey program in Boston than to bring home a Beanpot.

It's more than being the Best in Boston on a cold February night; it's a tradition revered by the four Division 1 college teams in the tournament. The women's version is younger than the men's, but it is still 28 tournaments old, and only Boston College had not won a trophy.

The Eagles changed that last night, beating defending champion and host Harvard, 2-0, at Bright Center to claim their first title in 10 trips to the final. As the buzzer sounded, a jubilant group of Eagles jumped over the boards and smothered goalie Alison Quandt. ''It's a special win," said coach Tom Mutch, in his third year of constructing a contender at BC. ''And it's a special win for anyone who's ever worn the Boston College jersey or been on this bench coaching."

BC got its backbone from Quandt, who made 23 saves to hold off the 10th-ranked Crimson. And it got its spark from Deborah Spillane, a slick sophomore from Franklin who knocked in both goals as BC denied Harvard a tournament record-tying eighth straight championship.

''The four seniors on this team have been through some tough times," said Quandt. ''We've seen it at the bottom and now, at the top, it feels pretty good."

BC (16-9-4) came into the championship on a tear, with nine victories in 11 games. The Crimson (12-9-4), meanwhile, have had to scramble, particularly with the loss of three stars to Olympic teams.

Harvard is known as a fast-skating team, but the Crimson were matched by the fleet Eagles, who checked tenaciously and repeatedly sprung loose their top line for scoring chances.

Quandt coolly handled all Harvard had. ''I was a little nervous at the get-go," said Quandt. ''Then I just got into a little rhythm."

Quandt turned back nine Harvard shots in the first period, none more dangerous than one by Jenny Brine, who tried to cash in on a power play with a bid at the right post that Quandt kicked out.

''It's Beanpot time, and you need your goaltender to play well, and she did," said Mutch. ''Then some player rises to the occasion, and Deb Spillane did that for us."

It took her only 37 seconds. Spillane, who played for both the Franklin High boys' team and the Assabet Valley girls, snatched a goal out of the air less than a minute into the first period and later thwarted three Harvard threats at the other end.

Maggie Taverna set up Spillane's goal, dumping the puck into the zone from mid-ice to give BC time for a line change. The puck hit goalie Ali Boe's pads and took a big bounce forward. Boe reached for it with her glove but got only air, and Spillane rushed in to snap a shot into the net.

Scarcely three minutes later, Spillane materialized in front of her own goal to sweep a loose puck out of the crease. As the last minute of the period ticked down, Harvard pushed hard, and Spillane appeared again, this time with a diving poke check that broke up Jennifer Raimondi's rush to net.

Spillane got her second goal, her 15th of the season, on a breakaway at 2:38 of the second, ripping a wrist shot from the hash marks.

''I think BC played great," said Harvard coach Katey Stone. ''They were hungry. They got up on us and they didn't lose their nerve. We have some work to do."