BOSTON - Senior Cara Hendry scored the game-winning goal with 1:26 left in regulation to give the Boston University women’s ice hockey team the win over rival Boston College on Friday night. The Terriers (14-7-2, 6-5-1 HE) picked up their first win over a ranked opponent this season, defeating the No. 8 Eagles (15-6-2, 9-4-0 HE) 3-1 at Walter Brown Arena. Freshman goaltender Melissa Haber made 20 saves to earn her seventh win.
Sophomore Nicki Wiart scored halfway through the first period, giving BU the 1-0 lead that it held for over 30 minutes. The Eagles fought back and scored in the opening minute of the third period to tie the game. As the fans prepared for overtime, Hendry notched her eighth goal of the year to take the 2-1 lead. Sophomore Erin Seman added an empty-net goal with 35 seconds left, to upset the Eagles, 3-1.
The Terriers entered the first period in front of their largest crowd to date, feeding off the energy to play an aggressive opening period. BU kept pressure on the Eagles and at 8:04, the visitors took their second penalty of the game when Cristin Stuart was called for interference, giving BU the chance to take a first-period lead.
The Terriers kept the puck moving along the blueline during the power play, until freshman Sarah Appleton passed the puck to sophomore Sarah Russell. Russell took a quick shot, aiming just wide of the goal to Wiart, who made contact with the puck and beat BC goaltender Molly Schaus, for the one-goal lead. The Terriers have now scored on the power play in six-straight games.
BU kept up the intensity, leading the Eagles in shots, 7-1, until the visitors battled back. The Terriers gave up two penalties in row that overlapped for 43 seconds, giving BC the 5-on-3. However, BU’s nationally-ranked penalty killing unit kept the team off the board, despite a frantic attempt to score. Haber went side to side during an onslaught of BC shots, leaving an open net for the visitors. BC’s Erin Blood had an open shot, but hit the post, giving Haber time to find her position and cover the puck. The Terriers entered the first intermission with their 1-0 lead intact.
Although Boston College didn’t outshoot the Terriers in the second period, they dominated play, taking shots right outside the crease and blocking Haber’s sightlines with traffic.
Just past the midway point of the game, BC’s Deborah Spillane connected with a long pass, giving her a mini-breakaway through the slot in front of Haber. Sophomore Caitlin Reddy got a stick around Spillane, breaking up the play, but was called for hooking at 12:32, giving the Eagles their third power play of the night. Despite BC having one of the top power-play conversion rates in the nation, they were unable to score.
At 18:47, sophomore co-captain Gina Kearns was called for checking and at the conclusion of the period, Hendry committed the same infraction, giving BC the 5-on-3 for the opening of the third period.
The Terriers killed off the first penalty, but just three seconds after Kearns left the box, Spillane took a pass from Kelli Stack and Maggie Taverna and beat Haber to tie the game, 1-1. The power-play goal ended a streak for BU, in which it had killed off 26-straight penalties.
At 10:44, BU got its first and only 5-on-3 of the game for 1:43. Lauren Wiedmeier was already in the penalty box for slashing when sophomore Amanda Shaw took a shot that was blocked by Becky Zavisza. Immediately, Zavisza made contact with Shaw and was called for cross checking at 9:16.
The Eagles killed off both penalties, keeping the game tied 1-1 as the third period began its descent. Near the 13:35 mark, Schaus mishandled a puck, falling out of position and leaving an empty net for the Terriers. Wiart was right in front of the goal, but was unable to get a shot off as Zavisza knocked Wiart from behind. Zavisza was called for hitting from behind, giving BU its seventh power-play opportunity of the game.
The Terriers didn’t convert and it looked as if the game would end regulation deadlocked, until Seman moved the puck across the ice to a skating Hendry, who picked up the puck and beat Schaus on the left side at 18:34 to give the Terriers the 2-1 lead.
BC pulled its goaltender at 19:00, but was unable to garner any offense with the extra attacker. At 19:25, Seman skated the puck into Eagle territory and scored an empty-net goal. The 3-1 win over BC gives the Terriers their third consecutive Hockey East win.
Haber ended the day with 20 saves. The rookie goaltender has now recorded three-straight wins, helping her team pick up six points in conference play. She earned second star of the game honors for her effort. Hendry picked up first-star accolades.
The Terriers will get the opportunity to sweep the Eagles, as the teams close out their weekend series Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Conte Forum.