Dec. 5, 2008

Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The sixth-ranked Boston University women's ice hockey team was handed its second straight setback on Friday afternoon, falling to Vermont by a 3-2 margin at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Seniors Amanda Shaw and Gina Kearns scored for the Terriers, who suffered their first loss in Hockey East play, falling to 8-4-3 overall and 5-1-0 in the conference.

Senior Ashley Walenty stopped 34 shots to help the Catamounts to their first-ever win against BU. Sophomore Teddy Fortin scored two power-play goals and classmate Celeste Doucet accounted for UVM's other tally.

The Catamounts jumped on the board early, capitalizing on their first power-play opportunity early in the first when Fortin took a shot from the right circle that BU senior netminder Allyse Wilcox got a piece of before it trickled into the net.

UVM struck again in the middle of the opening frame when Doucet took a pass from junior Brittany Nelson and wrapped around the back of the net before jamming the puck in to give the Catamounts a two-goal lead at the first intermission after outshooting the Terriers, 10-5, and not giving BU a power-play opportunity.

BU generated much more offensive pressure in the second period, holding a 17-2 advantage in shots on goal, but it was UVM that increased its lead with a power-play goal in the middle of the frame. Fortin tallied her second of the game when a shot from the high slot deflected off several players before Fortin knocked it in from down low on the left side for her fourth goal of the season.

The Terriers ended Walenty's shutout bid at 5:41 in the third, breaking through on the power play. Sophomore Jillian Kirchner sent a pass across the slot to Shaw, who ripped a shot from the left circle over the goalie's shoulder.

With BU facing a two-goal deficit and time winding down in the third, both teams had a player in the penalty box and the Terriers pulled to goalie for a man-advantage. UVM was attempting to clear the puck from their defensive zone when Kearns picked off a pass an maneuvered around the last defenseman before scoring her team-leading eighth goal of the season. That was all the offense BU could muster, though, and the Catamounts held off the Terriers' final efforts.

Wilcox made 16 saves in defeat for BU. The Terriers were 1-for-6 on the power play, while Vermont scored its two power-play goals in five opportunities.

The Terriers are back in action on Sunday (Dec. 7), returning home to Walter Brown Arena to host No. 7 New Hampshire at 3 p.m.