CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Freshmen Alex Carpenter and Emily Pfalzer each netted goals for the fourth-ranked Boston College women's ice hockey team in a 3-2 overtime loss to sixth-ranked Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon at Kelley Rink.
Junior goalkeeper Corinne Boyles made 30 saves for the Eagles, who moved to 13-5-1 on the year.
Counterpart Hillary Pattenden fended off a career-high 48 chances from Boston College to help the Lakers (12-4-0) escape Conte Forum as victors and tie the NCAA Division I record for career wins at 91.
Carpenter opened the scoring at 6:45 in the first. The forward handled a pass that junior right-winger Ashley Motherwell broke up in the right circle, fired a shot on Pattenden and went top shelf from point-blank when the net-minder produced a rebound. The rookie from North Reading, Mass. has 12 goals heading into break, second most in the Hockey East.
Kelley Steadman evened the game, 1-1, at 6:46 in the second and Christine Steadman put Mercyhurst on top, 2-1, a few minutes later at 11:04.
Despite the goals, Boston College was able to generate a significant number of chances and outshoot Mercyhurst, 31-15, after two periods.
The Eagles continued the pressure in the third and got the equalizer from Pfalzer at 6:51. Forward Emily Field and Carpenter found their classmate open for a quick shot near the slot to tie things up, 2-2. The goal was the fourth of season for the defenseman from Getzville, N.Y.
In overtime, both sides got off three shots before a loose puck in the Eagles' defensive third found Jill Szandzik at 3:01 for the game-winner. Bailey Bram assisted all three goals for the Lakers, while Bestland also picked up her third point on the clincher.
The Eagles will be off until Thursday, Jan. 5, when they face St. Lawrence. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at Northeastern's Matthews Arena.
No BC team had ever won more than 11 games heading into the December break and only the 2010-11 squad that eventually went on to the NCAA Frozen Four achieved a higher winning percentage (.735), going 11-3-3.