BU Opens Conference Play Against Providence
October 30, 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 30, 2009
Listen | Gametracker | Game Notes
The No. 10 Terriers (2-1-4, 0-0-0) open conference play on the road with a matchup against the Providence Friars (3-3-2, 2-0-0) at Schneider Arena on Saturday, Oct. 31. The matchup represents the third league contest of the season for Providence as it opened the season with two wins over Maine at home. Both BU and Providence are coming off a tie and a loss in their last two games.
The Terriers had their six-game unbeaten streak halted in their last contest, dropping a 7-2 decision to No. 3 Clarkson in Potsdam last Saturday afternoon. Jenelle Kohanchuk and Jillian Kirchner netted goals for BU in the loss, giving Kohanchuk the team lead in goals with six, and a three-game point streak. The six-game unbeaten streak to begin the season matched the team's longest ever as the 2006-07 squad started their season 6-0-0 before dropping a 4-0 contest to top-ranked New Hampshire.
Prior to their first loss of the season, the Terriers skated to a 2-2 tie with No. 6 St. Lawrence on Friday, Oct. 23. Jonnie Bloemers and Carly Warren each scored their first goals of the season but a third period charge by the Saints pushed the game to overtime and the eventual tie. The result marked the fifth overtime contest for the Terriers this season.
While Kohanchuk paces the team with seven points on the season, a sextet of Terriers is right on her heels in the point standings. Lauren Cherewyk recorded her fourth assist of the season last weekend to up her point total to six while Melissa Anderson upped her team-leading assist total to five, giving her six points on the year as well. Kirchner and Jill Cardella are tied with five points on the season while defensemen Kasey Boucher and Tara Watchorn have four points apiece. Senior goalie Melissa Haber holds a 3.17 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage on the season.
While the Friars are undefeated in league play this season, they have had a tougher go of it in non-conference contests, collecting just one win in six games.
It was an Ivy League weekend for Providence last weekend as the Friars hosted Yale and Brown on Friday and Sunday. Nicole Anderson and Ashley Cottrell both scored power-play goals in the second period to give the Friars a 2-1 lead heading into the third against the Bulldogs. Yale managed to even the score in the fifth minute of the third stanza and a scoreless overtime led to the 2-2 final. In the Mayor's Cup against Brown, The Friars took a 1-0 lead into the first break, but four third-period tallies were too much for the hosts as the Bears took home a 5-1 win.
Cottrell has been the sparkplug for the Providence offense this season, leading the team with seven points and five goals. Freshman Jessica Cohen is second on the team with six points (3-3-6) and junior Jean O'Neill has five points on the year, including a team-high four assists. Sophomore goalie Genevieve Lacasse holds a 2.11 goals-against average to go with a .912 save percentage. In six career games against the Terriers at Schneider Arena, the Friars have not relinquished a point, compiling a 6-0-0 record against BU at home.
Following Saturday's matchup, the Terriers stay in conference and host their first league game as they welcome Boston College to Walter Brown Arena on Monday night. The opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m., and the first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free long-sleeved BU t-shirt.
