Women’s Hockey: Terriers Claw Back For Overtime Winner

BOSTON — In the first shift of overtime, Boston University head coach Brian Durocher put out his first line. 37 seconds later, everyone emptied the bench to hound Mary Parker after scoring her nation-leading 15th goal to win in overtime.

Princeton held control and the lead for most of the game, but lost 4-3. The Tigers now sit at 5-6-1 (3-4-1 ECAC) following their third straight loss.

BU improved to 10-5-1 (6-5-0 Hockey East) with their fifth consecutive win. At this point last season, the Terriers had 11 wins in 18 games.

Victoria Hanson kept up her winning streak with 29 saves on 32 shots. She has tended the cage for all five of BU’s wins during this streak.

Parker now has points in her last eight games and goals in the last four. Only Dani Cameranasi of Minnesota had as many goals as she did entering action today.

Princeton recovered from an early goal allowed to Rebecca Leslie. Leslie has points in the last five games, including all five of her goals. Sarah Steele looked like she had the goal intially, but she had to settle for an assist on the play.

Karlie Lund scored even strength and Carly Bullock tallied on the power play to give Princeton a lead heading into the first intermission. Lund leads the team with 10 goals.

From behind the cage of Steph Neatby, Maddie Elia fooled her and the rest of her defense for the tying goal. After forcing the turnover, Elia stood behind the net and analyzed her options. Seeing Neatby slide to her left post, Elia jumped out to tuck the puck around the right post for her seventh of the season. The senior out of Lewiston, New York paced all Terriers with eight of the teams 38 shots.

The Tigers got that goal back, with Bullock beating Hanson high for her second of the game. Princeton carried a 3-2 lead until the last four minutes of the game.

As a BU power play expired with the second unit on the ice, Elia won a faceoff backward for Samantha Sutherland. Sutherland passed for Abby Cook as she went to the right point.

Cook sent a shot through a maze of bodies in front of Neatby, getting through everyone and finding the back of the net. The Terriers’ bench was sure to ask for the puck on Cook’s first of her career.

Hanson shut the door on Princeton’s chances as the clock for regulation ticked to triple zeroes. Today’s game marked the third overtime game this season for BU. They played in a total of three extra frame contests all last season.

Nina Rodgers managed a pass for Bach, sending her and Parker in two-on-one, while falling to the ice at the blue line. Neatby overcommitted to Bach shooting, allowing Parker a back-door tap-in to win the game.

BU will prepare for a home-and-home series against conference foe Connecticut next weekend. The first matchup will be in Storrs, Connecticut, followed by a Saturday matinee from Walter Brown Arena. BU went 2-0-1 against the Huskies last season, with the one tie coming at Freitas Ice Forum.