Clarkson takes both from BU in weekend series

By: Max Wolpoff

BOSTON — In two hard fought contests, the Clarkson Golden Knights swept the weekend series with the Boston University Terriers. Clarkson continues its undefeated season at 7-0-0 while BU drops to 3-3-0 (2-0-0 Hockey East) on the year.

For the first time all year, the Terriers jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first on Kayla Tutino’s first of the year. Tutino’s goal came on the power play, marking the first power play goal allowed by Clarkson all season. Not 30 seconds into the second, Maddie Elia scored her first of the year to make it 2-0.

That would be all for Terrier offense as Clarkson took over the pace of the game. Under two minutes after the Elia goal, Emma Keenan got Clarkson on the board. Just under eight seconds left to play in the period, Loren Gable slid the puck through Victoria Hanson’s pads to tie the game.

Head coach Brian Durocher said the late tally was “frustrating” for a team otherwise in control of the action.”We had a ton of good chances in the second period,” but none seemed to bounce the team’s way.

Kelley Mariani and Cayley Mercer tallied in the third to finish off the first of the weekend series by a final score of 4-2.

BU managed to skate with Clarkson through most of the second game as well, but a late first period rebound goal from Olivia Howe off a 2-on-1 rush put the Terriers behind. Clarkson had double the shots of BU, 14 to 7, after one frame.

A scary moment came in the early second when Sarah Lefort and Genevieve Bannon collided and slid into the boards behind the BU goal line. Lefort came out of the collision easily, but Bannon needed attention from the Clarkson trainer. She skated to the bench under her own power after a few minutes on the ice.

Olivia Howe scored her second of the game about halfway through the second on a no-angle shot to O’Neil’s stick side. Sammy Davis responded at the 18:34 mark with her fifth of the season, beating Tiley to a loose puck atop the crease.

That, unfortunately, would be the only BU goal as Clarkson ran away with the game in the third, with both goals coming from Bannon.

“I can’t give us a really good grade” coach Durocher said of the Terrier’s performance tonight. “That’s gonna be one of the best defensive teams A) because they play hard, B) they have a great goalie and C) they really transition the puck extremely fast.”

The Terriers will play Northeastern away on Saturday in the afternoon and Vermont at home Sunday afternoon.