Women’s Hockey: Terriers top rival BC in thrilling Battle of Comm. Ave.

By Bobby Serafin

Walter Brown Arena was treated to an intense back-and-forth game Sunday afternoon that displayed resilience from both sides, but the Boston University Terriers (7-5-3, 6-4-3 H.E.) ultimately seized victory over the Boston College Eagles (8-5-0, 6-4-0 H.E.) by a final of 5-4.

BU desperately needed this win after losing four of their previous five contests, while BC saw their brief two-game win streak come to a close. Both teams had shared a recent struggle in the goal-scoring department going into this game, but it proved to be the end of each squad’s scoring woes.

“It was a good team win. A resilient team win,” BU head coach Brain Durocher said. 

The scoring got started early, with junior Nadia Mattivi blasting home a long range slap shot just 1:52 into the opening period for her first of the year. 

This ended the Terrier’s extremely long power play drought. Julia Shaunessy and Brooke Ersoy picked up the assists, with Shaunessy collecting four helpers on the afternoon in her return to the lineup. 

“Julia is a mismatch on the ice. She’s able to knock people off the puck… and she brings some really nice passing into our lineup,” Durocher said. 

The Terriers didn’t let up as Emma Wutrich was in the right place at the right time, knocking home her fifth of year off of a great maneuver by Shaunessy to double BU’s advantage. 

BC wasn’t going to just go away, however, as they notched two goals later in the first. The first came from junior Caroline DiFiore, who was the beneficiary of a missed call that led to a breakaway for the Eagles forward, which she initially didn’t convert before tapping the rebound past BU netminder Callie Shanahan for her first of the year. 

The second Eagles goal was also a first, with BC defender Sidney Fess opening her account for the season on an innocent-looking wrist shot from the slot that floated past Shanahan’s glove to tie the game.

https://twitter.com/BC_WHockey/status/1462524707677384709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The rest of the period was full of great chances that involved each goalie stepping up, but the score remained tied 2-2, with the Eagles outshooting the Terriers 17-13. 

The second period wasn’t quite as eventful as the four goal first, but with 4:25 remaining, senior forward Mackenna Parker picked up a loose rebound in front of BC goalie’s Abigail Levi and put home her fifth goal of the season. Shaunessy and Wuthrich, BU’s prior goal scorers, picked up the assists on this one. The Terriers dominated the second and had great offensive zone possession, having a 17-9 shot advantage, but Levy was solid to keep the game close. 

The third frame got off to a flying start, with BC’s Caroline Goffredo leveling it up at three just 22 seconds into the period. The sophomore flew into the BU zone and in a falling effort slid the puck underneath Shanahan for her third goal and sixth point of the season. Maddie Crowley-Cahill and Alexie Guay each assisted on the goal that many thought would shift the momentum in BC’s favor. 

This, however, wasn’t the case because just four minutes later, Shaunessy sent a stretch pass through to freshman Christina Vote, who sniped a wrister top shelf to put the Terriers ahead once again. The Julia’s facilitated this goal, with Nearis and Shaunessy both factoring in with assists. 

The Eagles were later presented with a five-on-three that BC captain Kelly Browne quickly capitalized on after loads of traffic ensued in front of Shanahan’s net. BC went 1-for-3 on the advantage while BU still struggled, going 1-for-6. There were a lot of chances, however, as the organization for the Terriers looked much better. 

Late in the third, senior forward Courtney Correia took a pass into the slot from Nearis and soared a wrister once again past the glove of Levy to put the Terriers up for good. It was the senior’s team-leading 8th goal and 15th point of the season. There were plenty of late chances, but the goalies were sharp. The Terriers were able to shut the door to secure massive points in the Hockey East standings. 

BU has a small break, but is back in action on Dec. 3 on the road against Merrimack for the first game of a home-and-home series. As the season keeps moving, the Terriers look to hold onto their second place standing in Hockey East while also hoping to close the gap on powerhouse Northeastern. 

“This team shows that it can compete against anyone,” Durocher said. 

Featured image by Patrick Donnelly

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