Bach Creates Another Masterpiece: Terriers Defeat Bulldogs

By: Brian Lombardo

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The reigning national player of the month in women’s college hockey, Victoria Bach, was back at it again Thursday night in a battle with the Yale Bulldogs of the ECAC. Another offensive explosion by the senior was enough to help lead BU to a 5-2 win at Yale.

The Terriers (7-8-3, 3-6-3 Hockey East) broke open the scoring at 9:17 in the first period, converting on the power play with Bach’s first score. The goal was assisted by Nara Elia and Captain Rebecca Leslie.

Wasting no time at all, Bach went back on the attack, scoring her second goal less than four minutes later. The combination of passes from Abbey Stanley and Mary Grace Kelley gave the Terriers a comfortable two-goal lead going into the second period.

The middle frame was back-and-forth until Bach found her third goal of the contest, giving the Terriers a three-goal lead. The goal came unassisted; this “natural” hat trick for Bach is her third of the season.

Corrine Schroeder has been stellar since taking over the work load in net early in the season. After saving all of the shots she faced through two periods, Yale finally found a way past her in the third.

The Bulldogs snuck one past Schroeder early in the third period (1:36) on the power play. Greta Skarzynski netted her seventh goal of the season for Yale with the score. Momentum seemed to be up for grabs, and Yale Coach Joakim Flygh knew just how to get that for his team. Flygh began to cut down his bench and shorten his shifts in order to keep the energy high with the lines on the ice.

The Bulldogs responded by scoring another goal with just under five minutes to play in the game, cutting the Terrier lead to one.

However, a defensive gaffe by Yale saw an Abbey Stanley wrist shot trickle in past the defense. The goal was assisted by Breanna Scarpaci and Leslie, and came after a tremendous sequence by Stanley where she looped around the offensive zone, shielding the puck before ripping it on net.

As the game moved to its final minute, Bach capped off the win with an empty netter. The goal was her team-leading 21st of the season.

Getting back on track with a win, the Terriers play their final game of the semester on Saturday afternoon in Providence against the Friars. The team will then enjoy an extended winter break through Christmas before heading back out on the road for a two-game series in Princeton, N.J.