BOSTON - Freshman forward Kayla Tutino recorded her first collegiate hat-trick to guide the fourth-ranked Boston University women's hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Union on Saturday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena.
Tutino was not the only Terrier to contribute multiple points, as senior forward Jenn Wakefield potted a pair of goals, senior Jenelle Kohanchuk tallied three assists, junior Jill Cardella added two helpers and sophomore Kaleigh Fratkin notched a pair of assists.
Sophomore Braly Hiller made 27 saves to earn her first collegiate victory between the pipes. Rookie Sarah Bayersdorfer recorded her first collegiate assist to complete the afternoon of collegiate firsts for BU.
Wakefield tallied her first of the game when she blasted a shot past Union netminder Shenae Lundberg from the bottom of the right circle. Kohanchuk and Fratkin assisted on the senior captain's sixth goal of the season.
Rhianna Kurio evened the score for Union when she took a pass from Lauren Hoffman and snuck a shot past Hiller. It was Kurio's third goal of the year and Hoffman's third helper of the season.
Tutino made sure BU went into the first intermission with the lead as she lit the lamp in the final seconds. Junior Kathryn Miller worked the puck from the blue line to the corner, where classmate Jill Cardella picked up the puck. She skated behind the net and found Tutino parked in front of the goal. Lundberg stopped two of Tutino's attempts, but the third chance crossed the goal line with 7.8 seconds remaining in the frame. It was Tutino's second goal of the season, while Cardella picked up her second assist of the year. For Miller, it was her fifth helper of the year; she now has an assist in each of the last three games.
The fireworks continued in the second period, with the Terriers striking first. Senior Kasey Boucher lit the lamp for the first time this season, with assists being credited to sophomore Louise Warren and Bayersdorfer at the 3:55 mark. A little over seven minutes later, Christine Valente got a goal back for the Dutchwomen when she scored her second goal of the season. Molly Kate Devin and Jeannie Sabourin contributed the assists on the power play tally.
The Terriers earned a power play of their own and made Union pay with 7:15 remaining in the second stanza. Kohanchuk and Fratkin cycled the puck to Wakefield, who found the back of the net for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
Tutino was the offensive star of the third period. The Lorraine, Ont., native first made her mark on the final frame when she tallied a shorthanded goal at 2:17 of the period. The play started with a rush by Jill Cardella, whose initial shot was saved before Tutino was in perfect position to put away the rebound.
The hat-trick was completed 2:26 later when Kohanchuk and junior Shannon Mahoney set Tutino up for an even strength goal.
The Terriers peppered Union with 44 shots on goal. Lundberg and Alana Marcinko combined to make 38 saves for the Dutchwomen.
BU went 4-1-0 on its five-game homestand at Walter Brown Arena. The Terriers will now hit the road for five straight games, including four non-conference contests and the team's first Hockey East game. The road trip begins when BU ventures to the North Country for a weekend series against Clarkson (Friday, 3 p.m.) and St. Lawrence (Saturday, 2 p.m.).