BC’s Mullowney a Beanpot legacy
Defender’s family has rich history with Eagles
Boston College coach Katie Crowley didn’t need the hard sell getting defenseman Deirdre Mullowney in an Eagles’ uniform.
For the 5-9 freshman from Newton, playing hockey at the Heights is a family tradition that extends across four generations to the Roaring ’20s.
“Their history is amazing, she’s from a great family and a great BC family and we are excited to have her,” said Crowley. “She was one of the players we wanted and she certainly wanted to be here.”
Mullowney’s lineage at BC began with her great grandfather Edward, who competed for the Eagles from 192226. Her grandfather Michael played for BC from 1958-62 while her father, Michael Jr., competed from 1985-89, a remarkable ancestral pedigree, particularly for an American family.
“It’s been incredible that my great grandfather, my granddad and my dad all played here and it was something that I always wanted to do,” said Mullowney.
Mullowney will become the third family member to compete in a Beanpot tournament when the Eagles (13-8-2) engage crosstown rival Boston University (13-6-3) in the semifinals tonight (8) at Walter Brown arena. Northeastern (20-2-0) takes on Harvard (9-9-4) in the opener.
“The Beanpot in general was something I grew up going to with my grandfather and Dad,” said Mullowney. “Being able to experience the Beanpot with them was special and to now actually be able to play it for myself and for BC is truly a dream come true.”
Mullowney began her assent at Deerfield Academy of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference, a valued feeder system to the region’s Division I programs. She further enhanced her skills playing for the Boston Jr. Eagles, a club program coached by here father.
Four of Mullowney’s teammates, forwards Kelly Browne, Olivia Finocchiaro, and Savannah Norcross and defenseman Jillian Fey, came up through the Boston Jr. Eagles.
“She’s a very good defenseman and obviously she’s fitted right into the mix with our young D-group back there,” said Crowley. “She’s been thrown right into it and she done well back there.”
BC has one of the youngest back end units in college hockey, a collaboration Crowley expects will become a force next year. Redshirt sophomore Cayla Barnes leads the group and her hockey portfolio is extensive. Barnes was the youngest member (19) of the U.S. National team that won the gold medal in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.
“Playing with Cayla is pretty exceptional and I actually played against her in prep school,” said Mullowney. “Even though she is a redshirt sophomore, she is very much the leader on and off the ice.
“Just playing with her has made me a better player. She is very vocal on the ice, very helpful and off the ice she is very supportive and leads by example.”
Mullowney, Alexie Guay and Hadley Hartmetz are three true freshman and Fey is a sophomore. Barnes accounts for the bulk of the Eagles back end scoring, but Mullowney scored her first goal on a one-timer from the point in the Eagles 8-3 win over Holy Cross on Friday night.
“I think us being a young group,” said Mullowney. “But for next year and the years to come when all of us are juniors and seniors we are going to be pretty great defensively.”