Women's Ice Hockey Edges Quinnipiac, 4-3
November 29, 2006 | Women's Ice Hockey
NORTHFORD, Conn. - Sophomore co-captain Gina Kearns scored the game-winning goal with 5:13 left in regulation to lead the Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 4-3 road victory against Quinnipiac at Northford Ice Pavilion on Wednesday evening. Senior co-captain Cara Hendry scored twice while sophomore goaltender Allyse Wilcox made a season-high 40 saves to help the Terriers capture their third straight win and improve to 10-4-1 on the year.
Freshman Melissa Anderson added a goal as the Terriers improved to 5-0-0 against ECACHL teams this season. The Bobcats fell to 4-12-0.
Sophomore Erin Seman left the game just 44 seconds in after colliding with the crossbar while going one-on-one with Quinnipiac goaltender Laura Brennan. Seman returned to the ice unfazed just minutes later, leading BU with four shots in the opening period. Seman has recorded a team-high 31 shots in her last four games.
The Bobcats went on their first power-play at 1:49 in the first period as Hendry took her 12th penalty on the year. Quinnipiac registered three shots during the two-minute advantage, but was unable to beat Wilcox.
At 12:19, BU picked up its first player advantage when Elyse Cole was called for elbowing. Quinnipiac kept BU’s special teams from scoring, but just seconds after five-on-five play resumed Hendry extended her point streak, notching her fourth goal on the year to give BU a 1-0 lead. Sophomores Caroline Bourdeau and Sarah Russell assisted on the goal. Hendry has now recorded a point in her last five games.
Quinnipiac outshot BU 7-1 in the opening minutes of the first period before the visitors fought back to end the period tied in shots, 13-13.
The Bobcats increased pressure on the Terriers in the second period, spending the opening minutes deep in BU’s zone. The aggressive play paid off at 4:59 when Nicolette Leone blasted a shot from just inside the blueline to beat Wilcox between the pads and tie the score, 1-1. The Bobcats remained dominant, recording nine shots before BU took one. With that first shot however, Anderson gave her team a 2-1 lead with an unassisted goal at 9:27.
Despite outshooting their opponent 18-5 in the middle stanza, Quinnipiac entered the third period down a goal.
Just over three minutes into the third period, Seman and Anderson moved play behind the Quinnipiac net before passing the puck right in front of the crease to a waiting Hendry, who scored her second goal of the game at 3:34.
The Terriers went on their third power-play of the game at 10:26, but it would be the shorthanded team who profited, as Jennifer MacLean scored at 11:41 to make it a 3-2 game. Just 28 seconds later, the Bobcats struck again, tying the score 3-3 on a goal from Hayley McMeekin.
The game didn’t stay deadlocked for long, as Kearns converted on the power-play for the game winner. Seman and Anderson contributed to the goal, both picking up their second assists on the night.
The Bobcats pulled Brennan with 45 seconds remaining, but were unable to break through BU’s defense.
Anderson ended the game with three points, her fifth multiple-point effort this year. Hendry and Seman picked up two points on the night.
The Terriers are now 7-0-1 when leading after the second period.
BU returns to Hockey East play on Saturday, Dec. 2, when it wraps up a five-game road trip at Providence. Game time is slated for 2 p.m.
