BOSTON UNIVERSITY RALLIES PAST NORTHEASTERN, 4-2
Terriers score final four goals of game

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Sophomore Erin Seman scored with 5:47 remaining in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and lead the Boston University women’s ice hockey team (16-9-3) to a 4-2 victory over Northeastern (3-23-2) in the opening round of the Beanpot at Boston College’s Conte Forum. With the win, BU advances to the Beanpot championship game for the first time since 1982.

After finding themselves down against Northeastern for the second time in three days, the Terriers overcame a two-goal deficit to tie the game at 1:20 in the third period off a goal by Gina Kearns. Junior Julie Poulin added an empty-net goal after Seman’s game winner, to give the Terriers the win. Sophomore goaltender Allyse Wilcox made 28 saves in the game, earning her second career Beanpot win.

In the opening minutes of the game, Northeastern took control on the puck deep in its own zone, as Missy Elumba skated through the neutral zone, eventually taking a shot from the bottom of the right circle, hitting Wilcox directly in the chest. The puck bounced high over Wilcox’s head, landing just over her shoulder and across the goal line, giving NU a 1-0 lead at 2:47.

The Terriers went on the first power play of the game at 4:00, after sophomore Erin Seman was tripped by Katy Applin during an one-on-one attempt against Huskies’ goaltender Sydney Arbelbide.

As the seconds expired from the penalty, Northeastern’s Nikki Petrich broke away from the BU defensemen, setting up the puck directly in front of BU’s goal. Wilcox dove, making the initial save, but Amy Goodney picked up the rebound, taking a high shot over a laid out Wilcox, giving her team the 2-0 lead at 6:01.

BU went on its second power play at 8:34, when Erin Reil was called for tripping. The Terriers almost cut Northeastern’s lead to one near the nine-minute mark when Kearns passed the puck from the goal line to Seman, who nailed a shot directly at Arbelbide from the slot. The freshman netminder made the save, keeping the two-goal lead intact. BU entered the first intermission trailing Northeastern.

At 5:28 in the second period, Freshman Melissa Anderson was called for hitting from behind, putting the Huskies on their first power play of the game. BU easily killed off the penalty, keeping its opponent within two.

Just seconds after the penalty ended, Northeastern’s Colleen Sanborn got her stick around Anderson and was called for hooking at 7:42. Immediately, the Terriers went on the attack, taking advantage of their fourth power play of the game. Freshman Sarah Appleton passed the puck to freshman Jonnie Bloemers, who blasted a puck towards the goal. Senior captain Cara Hendry tipped the puck, beating Arbelbide, putting the game within one at 8:03.

Seman was called for hooking at 11:48, but the Terriers defense kept Northeastern off the scoreboard during the two minutes. BU has yet to allow Northeastern a power-play goal this year.

Northeastern outshot the Terriers 9-3, in the middle period, but remained scoreless during the stanza.

The third period opened with action from both teams. At 1:04, Chelsey Jones was called for interference, putting the Terriers on the power play. The player advantage ended just 11 seconds later, when Seman went to the box for high-sticking, putting both teams at four players.

Anderson squared off against Goodney in the faceoff that followed the penalty, gaining possession of the puck and directing it to Kearns, who beat Arbelbide on her left side to tie the game, 2-2.

The Terriers nearly took the lead at 11:25, when both Seman and Anderson got shots off during a scramble in the net, as Arbelbide was sprawled out on the ice. The commotion resulted in matching penalties on Anderson and Ginny Berg for roughing.

With both teams back to regular strength, BU’s power line of Seman, Anderson and Hendry took to the ice. The trio, along with freshman defenseman Sarah Appleton, kept the puck deep in Northeastern’s zone, eventually freeing the puck to Anderson, who blasted a puck towards the goal from the bottom of the left circle, creating a rebound. Seman skated in, retrieving the puck and took a shot that went high over Arbelbide to give BU the 3-2 lead at 14:13.

Northeastern pulled its goaltender at 18:14 for the extra attacker. At 18:47, Seman was called for body checking, putting the Huskies up two players. Just six seconds later, Poulin cleared the puck out of the Terriers’ zone, shooting the puck directly into the empty NU goal, giving BU the 4-2 lead and ultimate win.

The first-round Beanpot win is a first for the women’s varsity program. During the inaugural season last year, the women fell in the first round to Harvard, 2-1, in overtime, before defeating Northeastern 3-1 in the consolation game. The Terriers will return to Conte Forum next Monday to face the winner of the Boston College vs. Harvard game.

Before the championship game, the Terriers will return home to Walter Brown Arena on Saturday, Feb. 10, to host Providence in the final meeting of the regular season. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.