BOSTON - Sophomore Dakota Woodworth scored just 1:15 into overtime to lift the No. 4/5 Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 4-3 victory over Western University in an exhibition contest Friday night at Walter Brown Arena.
Woodworth's game-winner was her second goal of the game, as she began the proceedings with a first-period strike. Freshman Maddie Elia also tallied two goals while senior Kerrin Sperry and freshman Victoria Hanson combined to make 20 saves in the win.
The game-winner came when Woodworth collected a rebound and quickly deposited the puck into the back of the net. Sophomores Rebecca Russo and Jordan Juron each assisted on the goal.
Three Terriers had two-assist nights, including Russo and classmate Alexis Woloschuk. Senior captain Louise Warren also had two helpers while Juron and Lillian Ribeirinha-Braga each added an assist.
Woodworth got the scoring started at the 7:59 mark of the game thanks to a nifty redirection. Woloschuk fired a shot from the top of the zone with Woodworth stationed in a sea of bodies between the hash marks. She got her stick on the shot and deflected it past Mustang netminder Olivia Ross (42 saves).
Western evened the score with 2:01 remaining in the opening period. Kendra Deller collected the puck from behind the BU net and found Megan Taylor in front for the goal.
After a scoreless second stanza, Elia gave the Terriers a 2-1 lead with 7:10 remaining in regulation. She retrieved the puck in the slot and toe-dragged around a defender before beating Ross to her glove side. The Mustangs tied the game at the 15:27 juncture when Deller split the defense with a pass that landed on the tape of Stacey Scott's stick. She got behind the defense and scored on a breakaway to even things, 2-2.
Elia wasted little time retaking the lead, as she pounced on a rebound at the left post after Warren nearly scored with her initial attempt. Elia's second goal of the game came just 29 seconds after Western tied the score.
Brittany Clapham brought the Mustangs back to level terms with just 1:51 left in the third period as she tipped a shot over Hanson's glove with a redirection from the top of the crease.
It was a penalty-plagued affair, as the teams combined for 21 penalties for 53 minutes. However, neither team took advantage, as Western and BU were a combined 0-for-15 on the power play.
The Terriers will have two weeks off before they begin the regular season at Rensselaer on Oct. 11.