Tag / Harvard Stadium

by Matt Noonan

Introducing ‘This Is Noontime’

THIS IS NS MATT

By Matt Noonan | @MattyNoonz11

In just a few weeks, Noontime Sports will be celebrating its ten-year anniversary, which is hard for me to fathom.

When I started my site as a junior in college, my intentions were simple: get a job in sports media and shut down your little entity that was predominantly focused on analyzing Boston sports – well, more attempting to opine on various hot stove issues surrounding the Boston Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox, as well as the New England Patriots, too.

But over time, the site became more than just a hobby that produced daily or weekly podcasts on independent baseball or whatever I was watching on ESPN.  Instead, it became a labor of love. And that labor of love blossomed into an outlet that covered games at Harvard Stadium, TD Garden, and WPI. And the list goes on and on.

The journey seemed unimaginable for a soon-to-be 21-year-old who was ready to imagine life after Wheaton College (Mass.). But looking back on the past ten years, I am so proud of what I built (and established) within the small college space, along with the occasional major and minor league sports coverage, and yes, some high schools, too.

My site has connected me with some amazing people, including current and past editors, writers, and stringers throughout the New England region, to new friends like Anthony Karpouzis of Zelos Athletics, Brett Sillari of Sillari Properties, and Mike Loveday of LaxRecords.com. 

Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my two favorite D3 football guys – that would be James Baker and Frank Rossi – as well as Rusty Eggen and Mark Therien, who helped establish a partnership with the Worcester Area College Basketball Association (WACBA). All four have inspired me to produce content that highlights the true meaning of the student-athlete – I owe a lot to all four of these guys and am forever thankful for their help and support of coverage.

Of course, there are others that have made this journey so special like Tom Kelley, who became the first Division III football coach I ever spoke with when I elected to begin covering the small college sports beat in 2012 to Larry Anderson and Sonia Raman at MIT. And how could I forget Melissa Hodgdon, who has always believed me in since I was a student at Wheaton when I broadcasted her various basketball games, including an epic New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship win over Springfield College in 2008.

‘This is Noontime’ is a testament to the amazing people I have met throughout this journey – it is a tribute to their buy-in and appreciation for what I set out to do, which again provided hyperlocal sports coverage to the Division III world (and yes, even Division I and II in New England) years ago. (Did you know I tried to get UMass football on my radar?) 

My hope is this series, which you will see both here on NoontimeSports.com, as well as across social media, will inspire you to chase your dreams and follow what you love. I can’t say this has been an easy journey – nope, there have been a slew of challenges I have faced and overcome – but again, I am proud of what I attempted to do and thankful to so many people for allowing me to step into their office, swap texts or emails, or speak with me for a 20 minute call, so I could tell their story through various mediums like features and podcasts.

I am excited to begin this new series and hope you will enjoy as much as I do, so stay tuned for the first video episode, as well as some written insight, as well.

by Matt Noonan

Harvard Football Unveils 2019 Schedule

7865_harvard_crimson-helmet-0.pngBy NoontimeSports.com | @NoontimeSports 

Just weeks after capping its 2018 season with a 45-27 win over Yale University in the 135th playing of The Game, the Harvard University football team unveiled its 2019 slate, which features five home and five road games.

Harvard will entertain Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Howard University and University of Pennsylvania at historic Harvard Stadium, while visiting Columbia University, Holy Cross, Princeton University, San Diego and Yale this fall.

The Crimson will commence their 2019 season in San Diego on Saturday, September 21st before hosting Brown one week later on Saturday, September 28th. The Crimson’s home-opener against the Bears will be aired on ESPN+.

Following their home date with Brown, the Crimson will entertain Howard and Cornell in early October before visiting Holy Cross and Princeton.

The Crimson will cap their final month of play with two home games and two road contests, including the 136th playing of The Game against Yale in New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday, November 23.

Harvard concluded its 2018 season with a three-game winning streak, while finishing third in the Ivy League. Princeton, which defeated Harvard in October by eight points (29-21), captured the Ancient Eight crown with a perfect 10-0 record, while Dartmouth finished second at 9-1 overall.

The 2019 season will be coach Tim Murphy‘s 26th with the program – the tenured coach currently owns a 174-75 overall record with Harvard, but needs five wins to match Yale’s Carmen Cozza (179) for the most win in conference history.

Stay connected with our New England football coverage by following @Noontime_FB on Twitter today! 

by Matt Noonan

Boston Cannons, City of Quincy Announce New Partnership to House MLL Team in 2019

New Partnership with Quincy

The Boston Cannons and City of Quincy have created a partnership to house the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) team in Quincy. (PHOTO COURTESY: Boston Cannons)

By Matt Noonan | @MattNoonan11

Earlier today, the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) announced an exciting partnership with the City of Quincy, which will allow the professional lacrosse team to compete at Veterans Memorial Stadium, beginning next June.

The Cannons, who have been competing in the MLL since 2001, recently called Harvard Stadium their home site, but have also hosted games at Gillette Stadium, Cawley Stadium and Nickerson Field.

As noted in today’s release, the organization plans to “make a significant investment to enhance” Veterans Memorial Stadium,” which currently houses both Quincy High School and North Quincy High School football teams, along with various local youth and community teams, as well. Veterans Memorial Stadium currently can seat at least 5,000 fans.

Moving the team from Allston to Quincy will allow the team to continue to grow its presence, both in the city and throughout the South Shore, with its headquarters based not too far away from Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Cannons have called Quincy their home since moving to the city in 2016.

“The Boston Cannons organization is both excited and proud to call Veterans Memorial Stadium our new home,” said Boston Cannons President Ian Frenette earlier today at City Hall in Quincy.

“With the expanding Major League Lacrosse schedule, it was an opportunity for us to assess the best possible home for our organization and we’re thrilled to partner with Mayor (Thomas P.) Koch and the City of Quincy.

“Along with game days, moving to the stadium provides our organization a greater opportunity to grow the game of lacrosse throughout Greater Boston with increased youth clinics, camps, tournaments and presence.”

Boston will host eight games next season at Veterans Memorial Stadium, beginning with its season-opener on Saturday, June 1st when they welcome the Ohio Machine to Quincy.

Stay connected with our lacrosse coverage on Twitter by following @Noontime_Lax! 

by Matt Noonan

MLL Commissioner Brown Is Excited For Thursday’s All-Star Game

Mayor Photo Three

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh poses with MLL Commissioner Alexander Brown (middle) and Davey Emala (right). (PHOTO CREDIT: Regan Communications)

By NoontimeSports.com (@NoontimeSports) 

The Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star Game is scheduled for Thursday, June 28th at Harvard Stadium.

It promises to be an exciting evening of lacrosse – if you’re new to the sport, this would be a great introduction!

This year, 30 MLL All-Stars will compete against Team USA, which will be headed overseas in a few weeks to compete at the FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Netanya, Israel.

Team USA edged the MLL All-Stars four years ago in this same contest before finishing second at the FIL World Lacrosse Championships, which were held in Denver, Colorado.

Some of the players headlining the MLL All-Star team include Davey Emala (Ohio Machine), Scott Ratliff (Atlanta Blaze) and Will Manny (New York Lizards).

MLL Commissioner Alexander Brown certainly seems excited for the upcoming contest – in fact, he told us last week that he “thinks it’s going to be a great game.”

“We’ve got two highly competitive teams that are going to be going up against each other and a number of interesting storylines associated with the game. I think it is going to be a great night for lacrosse,” said Brown.

“Boston has had a lot of success with this game and I think the weather is going to cooperate with us. There is nothing like getting to see the absolute best in any sport on the field in any one time, especially in a competitive environment, and I think that is going to bode well for our game.

“If you’re a sports fan, it is worth coming out to see (this game on Thursday) because it is a very reasonable ticket and there will be a lot of things around the game, so it should be very much a festival atmosphere, so I would encourage fans to make their way to Harvard Stadium.”

Noontime Sports will be at this year’s MLL All-Star Game – you can follow our in-game coverage on Twitter by following @Noontime_Lax.

For more information on Thursday’s MLL All-Star Game, as well as ticket information – HOP HERE! 

by Matt Noonan

Boston Cannons Announce High School Rivalry Series

MediaDay-13_preview

Boston Cannons Helmet. (PHOTO CREDIT: Reed Smith’s Photography)

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

The Boston Cannons announced this morning their High School Rivalry Series, which will take place before select home games later this season.

The High School Rivalry series is presented by Plymouth Rock Assurance.

Catholic Memorial and Malden Catholic will be the first two teams to compete in the series – the two squads will face-off at Harvard Stadium on Saturday, May 5th at 3:30 p.m. before Boston entertains the Dallas Rattlers at 6 p.m.

Governor’s Academy will square-off against St. Sebastian’s one week later on Saturday, May 12th at Harvard Stadium with the game scheduled to commence at 3 p.m.

The final two matchups with take place in Hingham on Saturday, May 19th with the girls team hosting Braintree at 12 p.m. followed by the boy’s team entertaining Needham at 2 p.m. Boston and the Chesapeake Bayhawks will also compete in Hingham that same day with face-off scheduled for 6 p.m.

For more information on the upcoming High School Rivalry Series – HOP HERE!