BU look to avenge 8-1 loss to #2 BC in rematch
BOSTON — Last Saturday, the Boston University Terriers came into their matchup against Boston College riding a three-game winning streak. The Eagles, however, were not only on a 10-game winning streak, but Katie Burt had played over 190 minutes of shutout hockey. With a convincing 8-1 victory, the Eagles maintained their perfect season and their #2 ranking in national polls.
Freshman Sammy Davis continued her phenomenal season scoring 6:03 into the first period on the power play to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead to start the game. The goal, in addition to being her eighth of the season, was the first power play goal conceded by BC all season. Teams had a combined 35 chances against them in the previous 10 games. Unfortunately for the Terriers, that was the only goal they celebrated.
Within 88 seconds, Kali Flanagan and Lexi Bender tallied all the goals that were neccessary for BC to win and the Eagles entered the first intermission ahead 2-1. Andie Anastos tallied her fifth of the year, Haley Skarupa and Alex Carpenter both got shorthanded goals on the same power play, then Makenna Newkirk scored three straight goals for a natural hat trick, to round off the 8-1 game.
Erin O’Neil made 37 saves on BC’s 45 shots and Burt only needed 20 saves to counter.
“This team’s gonna get some opportunities offensively. You’re not gonna shut them down; they’ve got too many real top, top players who are parts of national teams and talented kids” head coach Brian Durocher said of BC.
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s matchup, junior goaltender Victoria Hanson will return between the pipes. It will be her first game since allowing seven goals to then #9 Northeastern in late October.
“She was gonna play on Tuesday, not because of the outcome[Saturday] but because I thought that was gonna be a good time to get her back in the game. This is obviously a fantastic opponent that we know is gonna be tough to beat on your best day” coach Durocher said.
The Eagles are likely to start Burt again as she has only allowed two goals in over 425 minutes since playing St. Lawrence on October 11th. Backup goaltender and fellow sophomore Gabriella Switaj has only played one game this season, the second matchup with St. Lawrence on October 12th, allowing three goals on 12 shots.
Carpenter and Skarupa, combined, have 48 points on the season, accounting for 29% of BC’s scoring prowess (total: 166 points). The Eagles’ first line of Carpenter, Kenzie Kent, and Newkirk share a 32.5% of the offensive output.
By comparison, Rebecca Russo and Rebecca Leslie have 29 of the Terriers’ 95 points, a 30% share. Add in the numbers for Maddie Elia to complete the second line, seven goals and three assits, and they have produced 41% of BU’s total offense. Sammy Davis alone, eight goals and two assists, accounts for 10.5% of the offense.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tuesday’s tilt will be the 42nd meeting between BC and BU in Division I play. BC holds the overall lead with a 20-16-5 record with ten of those wins coming at Walter Brown Arena. At Conte Forum, BU enjoys a 7-8-2 record along with a 3-2-1 record at neutral sites.
KEYS TO THE GAME
BU must play a smarter game, not necessarily a better game, to compete with Boston College. There were numerous moments in Saturday’s game where a BC skater stole the puck while BU was trying to enter the offensive zone, turned it into an two-on-one or three-on-one rush going the opposite way, and, at worst, scored or, at best for BU, forced O’Neil to make a tough save. Additionally, the Terriers cannot let the Eagles’ special teams units, whether power play or penalty kill, beat them. BC’s penalty kill scored twice and their power play went 1-for-2 Saturday; those kinds of numbers cannot be allowed if the Terriers hope to win.
Faceoff from Conte Forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday night.