Connecticut tops Boston University, 3-2
Dominique Thibault nets game-winner and adds assist for Huskies

Dominique Thibault had a goal and an assist for the Huskies

BOSTON - The Boston University women's ice hockey team dropped a 3-2 decision to eighth-ranked Connecticut Saturday at Walter Brown Arena, snapping a four game winning streak for the Terriers. After falling behind 2-0 after two periods, juniors Laurel Koller and co-captain Gina Kearns scored in the final frame to tie the score. However, a shot from Connecticut senior Jaclyn Hawkins fluttered past junior netminder Allyse Wilcox midway through the third period for the game-winning goal on the power play.

The Terriers (7-10-2, 4-4-0 HE) put on an impressive defensive showing against their conference rivals, holding the Huskies to a mere 20 shots on goal - including only four in the second period. On the offensive end, however, Boston University was stymied through the first two periods, posting few scoring opportunities.

The pace of the game changed in the third period, however, as the Terriers bust out the doors and applied pressure on the Connecticut defense. Kearns' goal almost four minutes into the period appeared to reinvigorate BU, creating more offensive opportunities and clearing the puck with resolve. When on the power play, the Terriers attacked the net fiercely, just missing opportunities until Koller's power-play score midway through the period.

However, after an interference penalty was called on BU, Connecticut sophomore Dominique Thibault scored what would be the eventual game-winner on the power play. Despite playing a man up for a large portion of the closing minutes - both due to a power play and pulling the goaltender - the Terriers were unable to find the back of the net, dropping their first game since Dec. 1.

Connecticut senior Jaclyn Hawkins started the day's scoring at 15:39 of the first period, netting the puck off assists from freshman Jody Sydor and Thibault.

The Huskies went up 2-0 in the opening seconds of the second period, as senior Liz Gallinaro collected a pass from sophomore Amy Hollstein directly off a faceoff. Gallinaro pushed up the right side of goal, scoring 42 seconds into the period.

Kearns brought the Terriers to within one score at 3:54 of the third period, as sophomore Sarah Appleton blasted a shot towards goal that the co-captain redirected into the net on the goaltender's glove side.

Appleton assisted on Koller's power-play goal just a few minutes later, pulling the Terriers even with the Huskies at 2-2 10:10 into the period. Thibault scored the eventual game-winner at 12:26 of the third period, as the collected a pass at the top of the right circle. Thibault powered her shot through the stick of a defending Terrier, fluttering a rainbow that Wilcox was unable to deter.

Freshman Jillian Kirchner saw her five game point streak come to a halt, just missing several opportunities to score. Over the course of the past five games, Kirchner notched nine points, including eight assists.

BU gets right back at it tomorrow afternoon, visiting Providence for a game at 2:00 p.m.