BOSTON, Mass. - Behind two power play goals in the final 4:39 of regulation, the No. 7 Boston University women's hockey team picked up a dramatic 2-1 victory over Providence on Sunday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena.
Freshman forward Kayla Tutino scored her 10th goal of the season at the 15:21 mark of the third period to even the score before junior forward Jill Cardella notched her fourth goal of the year with just 1:42 remaining in the regulation to give BU the lead for good. Sophomore goaltender Kerrin Sperry was terrific between the pipes, as she made 25 saves to preserve the victory.
The comeback began late in the third period as BU (10-8-1, 5-3-0 WHEA) trailed Providence (8-9-3, 6-4-1 WHEA), 1-0. While on the power play, junior forward Isabel Menard dished the puck to senior defenseman Tara Watchorn, who fired a shot on goal from the top of the zone. Tutino was positioned perfectly between the circles to redirect Watchorn's shot through the five-hole of Genevieve Lacasse (34 saves).
The Terriers earned another power play at the 16:36 mark of the period, and once again they capitalized on a nifty redirection. Senior captain Jenn Wakefield found classmate Kasey Boucher at the left point. Boucher's shot through heavy traffic at the top of the crease was tipped past Lacasse by Cardella for the 2-1 lead.
Providence scored first at the 5:04 mark of the first period. Laura Veharanta chipped the puck into the neutral zone for Abby Gauthier, who then got it to Ashley Cottrell. After she skated up the left wing into the offensive zone, Gauthier sent a shot past Sperry for the 1-0 lead.
In the second period, BU outshot Providence, 12-4, but was unable to solve Lacasse. One of the Terriers' best chances came late in the stanza as Wakefield, stationed just below the left circle, slid a no look pass to freshman defenseman Shannon Stoneburgh, who fired a shot from the slot that Lacasse saved.
The score could have been 2-0 if not for a stupendous stop by Sperry. Gauthier forced a turnover on the right post, but Sperry kept her composure and was in prime position to stone Gauthier and to maintain the status quo.
BU once again was fantastic on the penalty kill, as Providence went 0-for-6 on the power play. The Terriers have killed off the last 22 power play chances they have faced in conference competition.
Sunday's matinee was the Terriers' last home game of the semester. BU went 7-2-0 at Walter Brown Arena over the first half of the season. The Terriers also won the season series against Providence, 2-1.
The Terriers will end the first semester on Wednesday night when they head back to Northeastern to face off against the Huskies for the second time in seven days. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.