Terriers Ready For Pair of Road Contests Against Vermont
January 21, 2010 | Women's Ice Hockey
Jan. 21, 2010
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The Boston University women's ice hockey team (9-6-8, 5-4-3-2) looks to climb back into the top four in the Hockey East standings as they take on the Vermont Catamounts (6-16-1, 1-9-1-0) in a two-game road series at Gutterson Fieldhouse. BU is currently riding a three-game winning streak against Vermont, having taken down the Catamounts 4-0 earlier this season.
BU and Vermont have met on 13 previous occasions before tonight's game and BU holds a commanding 11-1-1 series edge. The Catamounts have been shutout seven times by the Terriers and BU has outscored UVM 41-11 in the 13 games between the two schools.
Earlier this season, the Terriers took down the Catamounts 4-0 at Walter Brown Arena, marking the first shutout for BU in the 2009-10 season. Four different Terriers scored goals as Jill Cardella, Lauren Cherewyk, Jillian Kirchner and Melissa Anderson all found the back of the net. Anderson's goal marked her 103rd career point, giving her sole possession of the all-time point total. Goalie Melissa Haber needed just 16 saves to record her sixth career shutout.
Anderson stands atop the BU points list this season with 24, thanks to 10 goals and a team-high 14 assists. Anderson also is the highest rated player on the BU roster, entering the Vermont series with a +11 rating. Jenelle Kohanchuk's 12 goals on the season are a team high, as well as her five power-play markers on the year. Jillian Kirchner is second on the team with 19 points and 13 assists while freshman Jill Cardella is tied with Anderson for the second highest goal-total with 10 on the season. Melissa Haber has been solid in net for BU, compiling a 2.28 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 20 games played.
In their last game, the Terriers captured the season series over rival Boston College, downing the Eagles 3-1, Tuesday night at Walter Brown Arena. Holding a 2-0 lead to start the third period, the Terriers conceded their only goal of the game after Allie Thunstrom picked off a pass deep in the BU zone to bring the score to 2-1 with 14:47 to play. A hooking penalty on BU gave the Eagles a power-play opportunity late in the period, but the Terriers killed the power-play to remain perfect on the year on the penalty kill against BC. Holly Lorms sealed the 3-1 win with an empty-net tally at the 19:12 mark for the Terriers. Anderson scored the first goal of the game for BU and Laurel Koller picked up the game-winner in the second period.
After getting off to a hot start in their 2009-10 campaign, the Catamounts have cooled off as of late, collecting just one win in conference play this season.
Vermont is coming off a tough home series last weekend, dropping two games to No. 9 Connecticut last Saturday and Sunday. In Saturday's game, Celeste Doucet converted feeds from Erin Wente and Brittany Nelson to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead. The Huskies went on to net five unanswered goals to take Saturday's game 5-1 before capturing Sunday's matchup 4-1. Chelsea Furlani scored Vermont's only goal on a power play in Sunday's defeat.
Furlani leads the Catamounts with 14 points on the season and is second on the team in both goals (7) and assists (7). Sophomore Kailey Nash is the team's top goal-scorer with eight on the year, and Nelson's eight assists stands as a team-high. Senior goalie Kristen Olychuck has started every game but one for Vermont, compiling a 2.65 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage.
The Terriers will play their third straight road game after the Vermont series, heading across town to square off against Northeastern on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in a 7 p.m. game.
