Women’s Hockey: Catamounts Hand Terriers First Loss

By: Max Wolpoff

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Despite a two-goal performance from senior Samantha Sutherland, the Boston University Terriers could not hold off Vermont, losing their first game of the season against the Vermont Catamounts at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

The Terriers (2-1-0, 2-1-0 WHEA) fell behind on an early power-play goal from Eve-Audrey Picard put the Catamounts ahead. This marked the first time all season BU has trailed in a game. BU would not lead the entire night.

“I thought our effort was pretty good,” BU head coach Brian Durocher said. “I just don’t know if we played with enough grit, or determination, or fight in some of the tough areas.”

Four consecutive tripping penalties were called in the first period, two for each team. Despite seven power-play opportunities, few of them for the full two minutes and one for a two-minute five-on-three, the Terriers did not score on the advantage all game.

“We probably took a penalty or two too many,” Durocher said. “There were some on the wall early in the game where we could’a maybe let them have the outside lane,” he continued.

Mellisa Black stepped in the crease for the Catamounts, making 38 saves on 40 shots to earn her first collegiate win in her first start for her new team. She transferred to Vermont from Union College, where the team did not win a game all last season.

Durocher chose to start senior Victoria Hanson in goal and she made 36 saves on 39 shots. All three Catamount goals came from within 10 feet of the crease on rebounds.

“We’ve gotta be a bit more consistent,” Durocher said. “There’s not a million gorgeous, pretty goals. You’ve gotta get goals that are tips, or deflections, or rebounds and we really didn’t get to those.”

The Terriers broke through when Samantha Sutherland took the puck across the blue line, lined up a shot at the top of the faceoff circle, and fired away. The first goal eluded Black all the way to the top-right corner.

Sutherland then tied the game late in the third period after sneaking a puck past Black. The Vermont net-minder got a piece of the puck as it trickled over the goal line but couldn’t keep it out of the net.

Alyssa Gorecki provided the late lead for the Catamounts with her first of the season. Daria O’Neil blasted the puck at Hanson on the rush with the Terrier goaltender making a quick save.

The puck laid underneath her pads for a few moments as Hanson was still trying to find it. When she popped up out of her crouch to look, it came loose for long enough for Gorecki to shove it behind her.

“It was under her pads,” Durocher said.” “When she flipped back not sure where the puck was, yes the puck gets exposed at that time. I thought it was close to a point where, you know, maybe [the referees] could’ve blown the whistle.”

The Terriers will travel to State College, Pa. next weekend for two games against the Penn State Nittany Lions. With next weekend’s series against the Nittany Lions, Durocher plans to play junior Erin O’Neil in the Friday game and Hanson in the Saturday game.