BOSTON - Sophomore Sarah Lefort scored two goals and added two assists to help lead the ninth-ranked Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 4-2 win over Minnesota Duluth on Saturday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena.
BU (14-3-1) staked itself a 4-0 lead to help secure its fourth straight victory. Lefort logged her third consecutive three-point game and has tallied four points in two of the last three contests. The Terriers finished 2013 with a 16-0-0 record at Walter Brown Arena, including a 7-0-0 mark this season.
Senior captain Louise Warren lit the lamp twice, including a shorthanded goal in the second period. She also assisted on the opening goal of the game to have at least three points in two of the last three tilts. Four other skaters collected an assist, including freshmen Natalie Flynn and Samantha Sutherland. Juniors Caroline Campbell and Shannon Stoneburgh each had a helper as well.
Freshman Victoria Hanson earned her first-ever non-conference victory thanks to a career-high 33 saves. She stopped 12 shots in the final frame and helped the Terriers kill off all eight of Minnesota Duluth's (7-8-3) power-play chances.
Lefort opened the scoring at the 12:35 mark of the opening period. Warren began the play with a pass to Sutherland through the neutral zone. The freshman forward took the puck up the left wing and below the goal line, bringing two defenders with her, before sliding the puck back to Lefort in front of the net. The sophomore sensation had the whole net at which to shoot and didn't miss for her 13th goal of the season.
Warren took the opening faceoff of the second period and needed just 22 seconds to give BU a 2-0 lead. Duluth was unable to clear the zone and Lefort capitalized by firing a shot on goal that Sofia Carlstrom (11 saves) stopped. Warren poked home the rebound, however, for her 12th tally of the year.
The Bulldogs appeared to have a great opportunity at cutting into the BU lead when they got a power-play chance with 2:21 to play in the second period. However, just 10 seconds into the minor Warren gave the Terriers a 3-0 lead. Warren was kicked out of the faceoff circle, but Lefort stepped in and won the draw back to the corner. Stoneburgh got to it and sent it up the boards. Warren then poked it past a UMD defender and moved in alone on Carlstrom to score her second shorthanded goal in three games.
The Terriers extended their lead at the 7:18 mark of the third period. Campbell and Flynn combined to get the puck to Lefort at the BU blue line. Lefort then beat a Bulldog defender and skated in on Kayla Black (6 saves) before finding the back of the net.
UMD responded just 13 seconds later when Meghan Huertas finally solved Hanson. The Bulldogs then made it a 4-2 game at the 9:22 mark when Tea Villila's shot from the left point got past Hanson. That concluded the scoring, however, despite having two late power-play opportunities. Duluth took a penalty with 1:49 remaining in regulation and was unable to generate any momentum in the final moments.
BU will be off the rest of December before beginning 2014 with a pair of home games. First on the docket will be Dartmouth when the Terriers welcome the Big Green to Walter Brown Arena on Jan. 4.