Women's Hockey Travels to Face Quinnipiac on Wednesday
November 28, 2006 | Women's Ice Hockey
BOSTON - The Boston University women’s ice hockey team travels to Hamden, Conn., on Wednesday to face Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. in the fourth of five straight road games for the Terriers. BU (9-4-1, 3-4-1 HE) improved to 2-0-1 on the road trip after a two-game sweep of Union College last weekend. Quinnipiac (4-11-0, 3-8-0 ECACHL) takes a break from conference play after 11 straight ECACHL games to host the Terriers for the first time in history. The teams tied last season, 2-2, at Walter Brown Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
The Terriers swept Union last weekend, defeating the Dutchwomen 4-1 on Saturday afternoon and 4-2 on Sunday to earn their fourth weekend sweep this season. Union took the lead on Saturday, scoring a power-play goal at 12:22 in the first period. However, BU senior co-captain Cara Hendry contributed a goal and two assists as her team scored four unanswered goals to earn the win. Sophomore goaltender Allyse Wilcox made 21 saves to improve her record to 6-3-0.
On Sunday, Union once again opened the scoring with a power-play goal, taking a 1-0 lead at 12:56 in the second period. Sophomore Erin Seman tied the game for BU at 18:26 and the teams entered the third period knotted at 1-1. The Dutchwomen scored 14 seconds into the third period to gain their second lead, but BU responded with three consecutive goals to seal the win. Freshman Melissa Haber made 16 saves in the game to notch her third win on the year.
SERIES HISTORY
The Terriers and Bobcats have faced off only once, tying 2-2 on Oct. 11, 2005, at Walter Brown Arena in BU’s second game in program history. Nicki Wiart opened the scoring in the game at 14:00 in the first period. Quinnipiac tied the game early in the second, but BU once again took the lead when Caroline Bourdeau scored to give her team the 2-1 edge. However, the Bobcats tied the game at 10:22. Despite nearly 30 minutes left in regulation and five overtime minutes, neither team was able to find the back of the net and BU settled for its first tie.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Quinnipiac is led by a trio of sophomores who lead the team in points. Hayley McMeekin heads the group with 12 points and eight assists. She is also the sole Bobcat ranked nationally in points per game (0.92). Jennifer Maclean is second on the team with 11 points, and Nicolette Leone is third with 10. Quinnipiac opened its season at then-No. 1 Wisconsin for a two-game series, losing both games by a combined 8-1. The Bobcats continued non-conference play the following weekend in Chestnut Hill, Mass., as Boston College defeated QU, 6-0. A week later, Quinnipiac picked up its first win, beating Northeastern 5-2. The Bobcats returned home on Oct. 21, to open play on an 11-game ECACHL run. During the span, they went 3-8-0, picking up wins against Brown, Union and Cornell. Quinnipiac is coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Dartmouth on Nov. 25, as the Big Green scored with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to win the game.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Senior co-captain Cara Hendry is leading by example lately. The Calgary, Alta., native is currently riding a four-game point streak, posting six points in her last four games. Hendry registered a season-high three-point effort on Saturday against Union, scoring a goal and adding two assists.
A TRAVELING TREND
Last season the Terriers went 2-12-2 on the road, winning only 18.8 percent of road games. So far this season the team is 5-2-1 (.688), with nine more road contests remaining on its schedule. The Terriers current five-game road trip is their longest all season.
OUTSIDE OPPONENTS
The women’s ice hockey team remains perfect this season when facing opponents outside of Hockey East, going 6-0-0. During the contests, BU has outscored opponents 20-9 and outshot opponents 191-137. While facing Rensselaer of the ECACHL, BU claimed its first overtime victory in program history, as Erin Seman scored the game-winning goal halfway through the extra period to give her team the 3-2 win.
JUST 20 MORE MINUTES
The Terriers are 6-0-1 this season when leading after the second period. The sole tie occurred on Nov. 19 at Connecticut when the Huskies tied the game at 9:14 in the third period. BU has found itself trailing only four times entering the final period, and tied three times.
EVENING UP
With the sweep of Union last weekend, head coach Brian Durocher increased his career winning percentage to .500. Overall, Durocher’s record is 21-21-5, with 20 games remaining in the regular season. Last year, the former BU men’s ice hockey assistant coach led the inaugural team to an overall record of 12-17-4 (.424) and a Hockey East record of 6-13-2. The Terriers have already compiled three conference wins this season.
