Game Recaps, Women's Hockey

Women’s Hockey falls to UNH in third meeting of the year

In their third meeting of the year, the Boston University women’s hockey team (3-1) dropped their first game of the season to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (1-3) at the Whittemore center in Durham, NH. 

In a bout of deja vu, the wildcats came out fast and with just as much intensity as they did last weekend as freshman forward Kira Judokis opened up the scoring for the second time with an over-the-shoulder goal from the left circle at 4:37 of the first period with an assist to junior forward Tamara Thierus. 

But, like the game last Friday, the Terriers showed their resiliency with a tying goal from freshman forward Christina Vote a minute and a half later. A shot from senior defenseman Alex Allan was redirected into the net by Vote, who scored her first career goal Friday night in the 2-1 victory over Northeastern at Walter Brown Arena.

The Terriers struggled offensively in the first period, playing mainly dump-and-chase hockey, but saw a few opportunities when UNH’s Nicole Kelly took a penalty for interference. Despite the woman-advanage, junior forward Julia Nearis quickly joined Kelly in the box with a matching penalty for 1:40 of 4-on-4 hockey. The first period then came to a close with the Terriers being outshot 21-8.

Coming back onto the ice for the second, BU looked much more aggressive with pucks being cycled and shots being attempted to match the Wildcats’ first period intensity. Senior goaltender Kate Stuart reclaimed her net after missing the first two games of the season, but you could barely tell with the stops she was making on some excellent UNH chances.

At 2:55 of the second period, UNH’s Brooke Hammer picked up the puck in the Terrier zone before setting off on a breakaway opportunity. The goal post must’ve been on the Terrier’s side, as Stuart wasn’t ready for Hammer’s shot, and the score remained at one apiece. Just two minutes after the Hammer attempt, freshman forward Kylie Roberts earned her first collegiate tally when a shot by senior forward Courtney Correia rebounded to Mackenna Parker’s stick, eventually making it so Roberts could slap the puck into the net.

Soon after the Terriers took the lead, senior forward and captain Kaleigh Donnelly reinforced the BU pressure with a breakaway attempt, but UNH’s Nicky Harnett made the stop and the Terriers stayed on top for almost the whole second period. With just over three minutes remaining, UNH tied the game with an even-strength goal by freshman defenseman Marina Alvarez. A shot by senior forward Paige Rynne bounced off of Stuart’s pad and Alvarez was able to make it to the front of the rush and slap the puck past the goal line to tie the game at two.

The teams continued to create opportunities and exchange chances in the third period with another early goal. Courtney Correia picked up another goal for the scarlet and white at 3:22 of the third period thanks to a two-on-two chance with Parker yet again. This would be Correia’s seventh point of the season– in just four games– as she continues to prove herself and her ability to produce offense when the team needs it.

Then, once the team felt comfortable for the rest of the period, UNH again turned the game around with a goal from Thierus, who had the primary assist in the original Judokis goal at 6:36 of the third period. The remainder of the third saw aggression from both teams with the Terriers netting 20 shots on goal and the Wildcats 33. 

Despite the frustration, neither team could create another goal opportunity, leading to five minutes of overtime where the Terriers had a woman-advantage. Sophomore forward Chavonne Truter was given two minutes for tripping, but BU couldn’t secure the win. 

In the first Terrier shootout of the year, the Terriers put forward Correia, Roberts, and Nearis, but Harnett was able to put aside the pressure for her team. Stuart was solid in her crease as well, but Jada Christian was able to tap the puck past Stuart to earn the Wildcats their first win of the year.

BU will face Merrimack College Friday October 9 at Walter Brown Arena at 7pm, with updates to come on twitter @BOSHockeyBlog.

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