Women’s Hockey: Balanced Attack Gives Terriers Sixth Straight Win

By: Max Wolpoff

STORRS, Ct. — Senior goaltender Victoria Hanson got her sixth consecutive start in net for Boston University, stopping 27 of 28 in the team’s 4-1 win over Connecticut. Her time in the blue paint coincides with BU’s longest winning streak since 2013-14 (eight).

“A goalie stepped up,” BU head coach Brian Durocher said. “Victoria’s had a real nice run that got added to tonight. The only goal that goes in is a five-on-three that pin-balls off somebody’s body.”

BU improves to 11-5-1 (7-5-0 Hockey East) while dropping UConn to 8-6-3 (3-3-1 Hockey East). The Huskies came into tonight playing the fewest conference games of the nine Hockey East schools.

When asked if he thought this streak would last as long as it has, Durocher said “12, 14 days ago, probably no.”

Following a scoreless and near whistle-free first period, three different Terriers pierced Annie Belanger three times to firmly grasp the lead.

“Nice to see other people score, nice to see a real solid game at both ends of the ice,” Durocher said.

After Connor Galway returned to from the penalty box, BU regained possession thanks to Sammy Davis. The sophomore carried the puck over the blue line, stopped at the face-off circle, and passed for Savannah Newton. Alexis Crossley sent a shot low across the ice when Davis tipped it and sent the puck to the top shelf.

The goal marks Davis’s 22nd collegiate goal and Crossley’s 60th collegiate point. Newton with the secondary tally now leads all defenders in assists (eight).

Davis found the score sheet again on the power play, a secondary assist on Nina Rodgers’s fourth goal of the season. Rodgers is enjoying a career-best 16 points after tonight’s game.

With Davis and Samantha Sutherland connecting for the initial shot, Belanger kicked out the rebound to Rodgers’s waiting stick.

Graduate student Mary Parker extended her point streak to nine games with a top-shelf tally later in the second period. Rodgers and Victoria Bach combined with their linemate for the goal. Since being put together at Penn State, this trio has combined to produce 26 goals and 30 assists in 13 games.

The lone marker for UConn came early in the third period after a carry-over power play turned into a five-on-three. They needed six of the nine seconds allotted for Leah Lum to tip a Justine Fredette shot high on Hanson. Lum now holds sole possession of the team lead in points with 17.

“The only thing we got lackadaisical is as the game went on was letting the one person cut back and gain the middle of the rink,” Durocher said. “If she beats you out wide, that’s fine. But if you let the kid carry the puck, get control in the middle, she can make plays both ways and that’s what you try to avoid.”

Bach would add on an empty netter to finish the scoring at 4-1. She is now one point away from tying Louise Warren for seventh all-time in points.

Durocher confirmed that Victoria Bach and Rebecca Leslie will not be available for January 7th’s game at Boston College due to their selection to Team Canada for the Nations Cup in Germany.

“Megan Keller missed two games against us, so now we’re going to lose two wonderful players,” he said.

The Terriers and Huskies will face-off again from Walter Brown Arena Saturday afternoon. For UConn, it is the final game of their semester schedule. BU has one more series against Minnesota after this contest.