Dec. 4, 2009
Box Score
Saturday: Watch | Gametracker | Game Notes
STORRS, Conn. - A fierce comeback by Connecticut proved too much for the Boston University women's ice hockey team to handle as the Terriers fell to the Huskies, 4-3, in the first game of a home-and-home series, Friday night at Mark Freitas Ice Forum. The Terriers slip to 7-6-6 on the season and 4-4-2-2 in conference action while Connecticut improves to 2-3-3-0 in the conference and 8-5-3 overall.
The hosts came storming back after digging a 2-0 hole, getting on the board at the 14:27 mark on a Kelly Horan goal. The Huskies drew even with 7:29 remaining in the middle period as Casey Knajdek converted feeds from Sami Evelyn and Jody Sydor on a Connecticut power-play. The Husky special teams struck once more in the stanza, taking their first lead of the game on a second power-play goal, this one coming from Michelle Binning on a Horan feed. The Huskies outshot the Terriers 14-5 for the period.
The Huskies extended their lead to 4-2 with 1:58 gone in the third as Evelyn put home a slapshot from long range. The guests answered quickly as Kirchner slid home a shot from a sharp angle to bring the Terriers to within one at 4-3 with 16:46 to play, but the guests were unable to come up with a fourth tally, dropping the 4-3 final.
Junior Lauren Cherewyk recorded a career-high three assists in the game for the Terriers. BU goalie Melissa Haber recorded 32 saves on the evening while Connecticut's Alexandra Garcia notched 12 saves through two periods. The Huskies outshot the Terriers 36-18 on the evening.
After each team killed off a penalty midway through the first period, BU broke through with just under five minutes to play. Cherewyk worked the puck up the far side of the ice before dishing it to Jillian Kirchner who took it towards the goal. Kirchner faked a shot from the left side of the crease and slid a pass to Kasey Boucher who one-timed it home for a 1-0 lead at 4:49. Haber withstood a flurry of promising Husky opportunities towards the end of the period, turning away four Connecticut shots in the final minute to preserve the 1-0 lead heading into the first break.
The Terriers doubled their lead just 22 seconds into the second period as Jenelle Kohanchuk pushed home a loose puck out of a scuffle in front of the Connecticut net. Melissa Anderson got credit for the assist on the play.
The Terriers and Huskies finish up their home-and-home at Walter Brown Arena tomorrow afternoon in a 3 p.m. showdown.
