Women’s Hockey: Terriers Split Weekend Series with RIT

By: Jarett Leonard

BOSTON — The Boston University women’s hockey team raced out to a three-goal lead over the Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, but the Terriers scored only twice over the next five periods and settled for a weekend split with the Tigers.

BU (2-6-1, 1-5-1 Hockey East) scored three times within the first six minutes of Friday’s game one, started by a strike from former Tiger Reagan Rust, who drove one past goaltender Jessi O’Leary from the right side.

Just over a minute later, senior Rebecca Leslie won the puck in the corner and found classmate Victoria Bach alone in the slot, who went top-shelf to extend the Terriers’ lead. BU would add a third about two minutes later when senior Nina Rodgers jumped on a rebound from a Natasza Tarnowski shot and beat O’Leary.

As the onslaught continued, BU took just twenty seconds to capitalize on a power play to begin the second period. Sophomore Abby Cook netted her first of the season on a one-timer from the blue line.

BU freshman goaltender Corrine Schroeder surrendered her only goal of the contest late in the second period on a drive by Brinna Dochniak that found the top corner of the net. Schroeder finished the night with 19 saves to stay unbeaten on the year.

Leslie restored BU’s four-goal lead in the third period as she redirected a Rust shot from just outside the crease to give the Terriers a 5-1 win.

In the series finale at Agganis Arena, RIT gained its first lead of the weekend midway through the second period. On the power play, Logan Land’s centering pass from the right corner made its way through to Claudia Black who buried the snap shot from the left circle.

But the Terriers answered a few minutes later to tie the score. Junior Mary Grace Kelley missed the net from the doorstep, but she chased down the rebound and skated to the left circle. There, she fired a wrist shot perfectly into the top left corner of the net that pinged in off the post.

BU controlled play in the third period, outshooting RIT 22-7, but the game remained tied through regulation. Then, just 24 seconds into the overtime period, Mallory Rushton blocked a shot by sophomore Abbey Stanley and raced toward the Terrier net. Schroeder (23 saves) denied Rushton on the breakaway, but Cook was ruled to have impeded Rushton enough on the back-check to warrant a penalty shot.

On her chance, Rushton deked perfectly and converted to give the Tigers the 2-1 win.

The Terriers will host the University of Connecticut next Friday at Walter Brown Arena in their only game of the weekend. BU earned its first win of the season against the Huskies, 6-2, on Oct. 22.