March 7, 2010
Box Score | Postseason Central | NCAA Bracket
Video Highlights | Post-Game Press Conference
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Tara Watchorn scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Boston University women's ice hockey team to its first Hockey East championship with a 2-1 win over seventh-ranked Connecticut on Sunday afternoon at Schneider Arena. The Terriers will advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, as they will travel to face Mercyhurst in the quarterfinals on Saturday (March 13) at 2 p.m.
Senior goaltender Melissa Haber was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after making 25 saves in the title game. Watchorn and senior forward Melissa Anderson, who scored twice in Saturday's semifinal win over New Hampshire, also earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Watchorn's game-winner came on a long blast 9:52 into the extra frame. It was the second goal of the season for the sophomore defenseman, who was named to the Hockey East All-Star team for the second straight season.
In regulation, freshman defenseman Kathryn Miller scored for BU and senior winger Michelle Binning evened the score for UConn.
With the Terriers on the power play in the first period, Jonnie Bloemers sent the puck towards the net from the back boards. The puck deflected off the side of the net, but right to the stick of Jenelle Kohanchuk and she passed to Miller, who was stationed at the side of the net and flipped the puck in. It was the second goal of the season for the freshman defenseman and Kohanchuk's assist extended her streak of tallying a point in each of her five career postseason games.
The Huskies leveled the score 6:50 into the second period when Michelle Binning swooped in to bury a rebound off a shot from Monique Weber for Binning's team-leading 20th tally of her senior campaign.
A scoreless third period sent the game into overtime, the Terriers' NCAA record 15th overtime game of the season.
Alexandra Garcia made 31 saves in goal for UConn as the Terriers held a 33-26 advantage in shots on goal. BU killed off its only penalty of the game and has now killed off 19 straight penalties, going perfect on the penalty kill in the last five straight games. The Terriers were 1-for-3 on the power play.
The Terriers have now won six straight games and are unbeaten in their last ten, tying program records on both counts. BU will face Mercyhurst in the NCAA quarterfinals next weekend.
