BOSTON, Mass. - Senior Jillian Kirchner and junior Jenelle Kohanchuk each tallied two goals and an assist to lead the No. 5 Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 5-2 victory against New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena. With the win, the Terriers improved to 8-1-1 (2-0-1 HEA) and extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (8-0-1).
In a defensive first period that produced only seven combined shots on goal, New Hampshire's Sarah Cuthbert gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead with 3:35 remaining in the opening frame. Kohanchuk evened the game at 6:15 of the second period before sophomore Kathryn Miller gave the Terriers their first lead at 8:32 of the final frame.
Kohanchuk added her second goal just 13 seconds later as BU skated to a 3-1 lead. Kirchner gave the Terriers a 4-1 advantage at 10:58. New Hampshire's Kristine Horn then closed the gap to 4-2 at 15:59, but Kirchner's second goal of the game with 1:41 remaining in regulation accounted for the 5-2 final.
BU went 1-for-5 with the player advantage, while successfully defending New Hampshire's four power-play opportunities. BU edged New Hampshire in shots, 21-20, while freshman Kerrin Sperry turned aside 18 shots as she improved to 6-0-1.
In the first period, Cuthbert gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 16:25 after wristing a shot from the right circle that found its way past Sperry.
The Terriers then scored four straight goals to take a 4-1 advantage. On a great individual effort, Kohanchuk tied the game with 13:45 remaining in the middle frame when she maneuvered around a New Hampshire defenseman and sent a backhand attempt high over goaltender Linsey Minton's glove for the goal.
In the third period, Miller intercepted a New Hampshire breakout pass, skated into the offensive zone and fired a slap shot from the top of the right circle that went off the far post and into the net at 8:32.
Just 13 seconds later, Kohanchuk scored her second marker of the game to extend the BU lead to 3-1. Kirchner skated into the offensive zone and fired a shot from the left circle that was turned aside by Minton. The rebound was directed toward the slot, where Kohanchuk backhanded the loose puck into the net.
At 10:58 of the frame, Kohanchuk returned the favor when she slid a cross-crease pass to Kirchner, who banged in the power-play goal.
New Hampshire's Kristine Horn cut the lead to 4-2 with a goal at 15:59, but Kirchner scored with 1:49 remaining in regulation to account for the 5-2 final. Senior Holly Lorms and Kirchner skated into the offensive zone 2-on-1. Lorms then slid the puck over to Kirchner, who made a move to her backhand and sent the puck to the back of the net.
The Terriers will return to action next weekend when they host Vermont on Nov. 12-13. Game time for both games is set at 3 p.m. The Wildcats are back in action next weekend when they play a home-and-home series with Connecticut on Nov. 13-14.