Women’s Ice Hockey: Terriers Top Maine in Physical Battle

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – In a game that saw 13 penalties and 66 shots on goal between both teams, the Boston University Terriers (7-6-0, 5-3-0 Hockey East) earned a 5-3 win over the Maine Black Bears (6-7-0, 3-5-0 Hockey East). BU’s top two lines scored all 10 points (five goals, five assists) for the Terriers’ offense.

BU got off to a fast start afterKayla Tutino and Victoria Bach won the puck in a battle at the Maine blueline. Sarah Lefort, who was open in the slot, took the puck off Tutino’s pass, did a double deke on Meghann Treacy, and backhanded the puck five-hole for her second goal of the year. The score came just 57 seconds into the game.

Though Maine’s first shot on goal came at around the 12 minute mark, the Black Bears made the most of their early chances once the went on the power play. Alyson Matteau tied the game by firing a rocket from the blue line while the Black Bears enjoyed a 5-on-3 power play.

“Maine’s always a big and strong team and they have great goaltending… as long as we stick to our game plan, we’re gonna have no problem comin’ up an tryin’ to put some pucks in the net” defender Alexis Crossley said.

“It slows down the game. You can’t really get in a groove when you’re playing that many penalties shorthanded or on the power play” added Maddie Elia.

In another blueline turnover by Maine, Bach single-handely stole the puck, deked Treacy, and slid the puck past her outstreched left leg for BU’s second goal.

Both teams ran into penalty trouble to start the second period with BU going to the box three times in the first ten minutes to Maine’s two. Catherine Tufts was credited with Maine’s equalizer 8:27 into the second just as the 5-on-3 expired. The puck could not be found in the crease until it slid past Victoria Hanson and barely went over the line.

“Special teams is always a huge part of hockey and that can determine wins or losses in hockey games” Crossley said.

Defenseman Carolyn Menges scored her first collegiate goal unassisted to give Maine a 3-2 lead. Her bullet from the point hit Hanson’s glove and fluttered over the goal line. Shortly afterward, BU found itself on its third and fourth power plays of the period one right after the other.

Bach caught Treacy out of position toward the end of the fourth player-advantage and found Lefort wide open on her glove side to tie the game 3-3.

The penalties continued through the third period when BU went back to the kill just 27 seconds in. Maine’s chances were limited to wide passes and shots that did not hit the net. Eleven minutes past in the period, BU’s second line asserted its power over the Maine defense.

Following 30 seconds of consecutive zone time Elia skated uncontested from the boards to the slot. Treacy challenged the junior by skating to the top of the crease, but guessed glove when Elia wristed her shot stick-side to break the 3-3 deadlock. Elia added another with her empty net goal to finish the night at 10 goals this season.

Hanson made 30 saves in her second straight start for her third win of the season. Erin O’Neil will return between the pipes for the rematch tomorrow, again at 3 p.m. from Walter Brown Arena.

“Both [Hanson and O’Neil] do a great job of communicating with the defense, they both play the puck really well” Crossley said.