Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Trivigno Leads the Line into NCAAs
March 10, 2016 | Women's Hockey
Senior captain Dana Trivigno leads the Eagles' second line into NCAA play
When the final whistle blew on the 2014-15 season, Dana Trivigno knew that her upcoming senior season would be a big one.
The Class of 2016 – the winningest and most prolific in both school and Hockey East history – still had outstanding goals to achieve: they were still searching for a Hockey East Tournament title and an elusive NCAA title.
They knew what that meant: "Definitely that we're not going to let another year slip away. It's been three years so far, and we'd come short of our ultimate goal and we wanted to make this year different.," Trivigno said.
Now, almost a full calendar year later, Trivigno and the senior class are leading the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Eagles (38-0-0) – fresh off the 2016 Hockey East Tournament title – into the program's eighth NCAA Tournament, which starts on Saturday against cross-town rival Northeastern (28-8-1). | TICKETS
Trivigno has done a lot to get the Eagles back for one more try at the national championship. She's had a career year on the ice, posting career highs in points (47), goals (17) and assists (30). She's also part of a rejuvenated power-play unit that's ranked second nationally (33.1 percent with a school-record 45 power-play goals) and the nation's fourth-ranked penalty kill (91.7 percent).
Since getting new linemates on Jan. 19 – adding rookie Makenna Newkirk on the left wing and junior center Andie Anastos on the right wing – Trivigno has netted 23 of her points in 15 games. The trio has combined to score 23 goals and added 37 assist for 60 points in that span.
"We've found a groove," Trivigno said. "We're playing well together and just happen to be getting points and scoring goals, which has worked out nicely."
Part of the success of the line has been having two natural centers – Trivigno and Anastos – playing alongside each other. Both can move around and slot in for the other as the game ebbs and flows.
"Andie and I actually spoke about it in the beginning of the year and we wondered if we would ever play together because we seem to work well with each other," Trivigno said. "When it actually happened, I actually offered to give up center. I was like, 'If you don't like wing, we can always switch and I'll play wing. We'll figure it out!'
"It's pretty helpful having two centers on a line because if she gets back into the zone first, she can play defensive zone as a center position and I'll just jump to the wing. Or if I get kicked out of a faceoff, she can always take one. It's definitely a big asset to have," Trivigno continued. "We both have really good vision. We're both players who can see the ice and we've both figured out what each other's tendencies are. With that, we're able to think one step ahead."
The line has been a step ahead of most opponents the last two months. But it's not just Trivigno and Anastos. Newkirk has made a case for National Freshman of the Year with her own 48-point effort so far this season.
"Makenna gives us a little more firepower," Trivigno said. "She's able to put the puck in the back of the net very well. That's good to have on our line, coming from me and Andie who sometimes tend to be more playmakers, more passers. We can score, but Makenna adds that little bit of scoring."
Head coach Katie Crowley noted that Trivigno's energy has a lot to do with the line's success.
"Dana's (Trivigno) a great player," Crowley said. "When her line is moving pucks and they're moving their feet, they do a great job. Dana sparks that line. Dana is a spark for every team she plays on.
"The three of them are really working well together. They're learning how to use each other and all three bring something to the line. That's helped Dana be even more effective. It's been fun to watch them play together the last month and a half and grow and learn each other's tendencies." Crowley said.
The Eagles hope to have three games left in them and realize their dreams of raising their first national championship trophy on March 20 in Durham, N.H.
But regardless of that outcome, Trivigno – along with Alex Carpenter, Megan Keller and Haley Skarupa – will still have some hockey left in the year. They'll meet up with Team USA in the coming weeks to help defend the team's world championship title. The foursome was part of the 2015 U.S. World Championship squad that won gold, and all four will return to the ice in the Red-White-and-Blue in late March when the IIHF World Championships are held in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The experience with the national team has been added bonus for Trivigno, especially as the Eagles move forward.
"It's always an honor putting on that USA jersey," Trivigno said. "You learn so much from those players and those coaches, just being there in that high-pressure environment. It gives you a little more confidence. That is the next level and you've played at that level. I've tried to implement some of the things I've learned with Andie and Makenna. And I think it has been helping us in different areas on the ice."
Either way, the immediate goal is a national championship and Trivigno and her teammates have that in their sights.
"You only get to play college hockey so long and everyone says it's the best of your life and you want to make the most of it," Trivigno said. "These truly are my last few games. So, I'm trying to make it a good ending."
The Class of 2016 – the winningest and most prolific in both school and Hockey East history – still had outstanding goals to achieve: they were still searching for a Hockey East Tournament title and an elusive NCAA title.
They knew what that meant: "Definitely that we're not going to let another year slip away. It's been three years so far, and we'd come short of our ultimate goal and we wanted to make this year different.," Trivigno said.
Now, almost a full calendar year later, Trivigno and the senior class are leading the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Eagles (38-0-0) – fresh off the 2016 Hockey East Tournament title – into the program's eighth NCAA Tournament, which starts on Saturday against cross-town rival Northeastern (28-8-1). | TICKETS
Trivigno has done a lot to get the Eagles back for one more try at the national championship. She's had a career year on the ice, posting career highs in points (47), goals (17) and assists (30). She's also part of a rejuvenated power-play unit that's ranked second nationally (33.1 percent with a school-record 45 power-play goals) and the nation's fourth-ranked penalty kill (91.7 percent).
Since getting new linemates on Jan. 19 – adding rookie Makenna Newkirk on the left wing and junior center Andie Anastos on the right wing – Trivigno has netted 23 of her points in 15 games. The trio has combined to score 23 goals and added 37 assist for 60 points in that span.
"We've found a groove," Trivigno said. "We're playing well together and just happen to be getting points and scoring goals, which has worked out nicely."
Part of the success of the line has been having two natural centers – Trivigno and Anastos – playing alongside each other. Both can move around and slot in for the other as the game ebbs and flows.
"Andie and I actually spoke about it in the beginning of the year and we wondered if we would ever play together because we seem to work well with each other," Trivigno said. "When it actually happened, I actually offered to give up center. I was like, 'If you don't like wing, we can always switch and I'll play wing. We'll figure it out!'
"It's pretty helpful having two centers on a line because if she gets back into the zone first, she can play defensive zone as a center position and I'll just jump to the wing. Or if I get kicked out of a faceoff, she can always take one. It's definitely a big asset to have," Trivigno continued. "We both have really good vision. We're both players who can see the ice and we've both figured out what each other's tendencies are. With that, we're able to think one step ahead."
The line has been a step ahead of most opponents the last two months. But it's not just Trivigno and Anastos. Newkirk has made a case for National Freshman of the Year with her own 48-point effort so far this season.
"Makenna gives us a little more firepower," Trivigno said. "She's able to put the puck in the back of the net very well. That's good to have on our line, coming from me and Andie who sometimes tend to be more playmakers, more passers. We can score, but Makenna adds that little bit of scoring."
Head coach Katie Crowley noted that Trivigno's energy has a lot to do with the line's success.
"Dana's (Trivigno) a great player," Crowley said. "When her line is moving pucks and they're moving their feet, they do a great job. Dana sparks that line. Dana is a spark for every team she plays on.
"The three of them are really working well together. They're learning how to use each other and all three bring something to the line. That's helped Dana be even more effective. It's been fun to watch them play together the last month and a half and grow and learn each other's tendencies." Crowley said.
The Eagles hope to have three games left in them and realize their dreams of raising their first national championship trophy on March 20 in Durham, N.H.
But regardless of that outcome, Trivigno – along with Alex Carpenter, Megan Keller and Haley Skarupa – will still have some hockey left in the year. They'll meet up with Team USA in the coming weeks to help defend the team's world championship title. The foursome was part of the 2015 U.S. World Championship squad that won gold, and all four will return to the ice in the Red-White-and-Blue in late March when the IIHF World Championships are held in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The experience with the national team has been added bonus for Trivigno, especially as the Eagles move forward.
"It's always an honor putting on that USA jersey," Trivigno said. "You learn so much from those players and those coaches, just being there in that high-pressure environment. It gives you a little more confidence. That is the next level and you've played at that level. I've tried to implement some of the things I've learned with Andie and Makenna. And I think it has been helping us in different areas on the ice."
Either way, the immediate goal is a national championship and Trivigno and her teammates have that in their sights.
"You only get to play college hockey so long and everyone says it's the best of your life and you want to make the most of it," Trivigno said. "These truly are my last few games. So, I'm trying to make it a good ending."
Players Mentioned
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