Jan. 8, 2012
Box Score
| Durocher Postgame Comments
ORONO, Maine - Freshman forward Kayla Tutino and senior forward Jenn Wakefield each potted a goal and added an assist as the Boston University women's hockey team defeated Maine, 2-1, at Alfond Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Wakefield scored just 41 seconds into the contest to give BU (11-9-1, 6-4-0 WHEA) a 1-0 lead. Tutino's first period tally nearly eight minutes later proved to be the game-winner, as sophomore goaltender Kerrin Sperry allowed just one goal in a 23-save victory.
The game also marked the return of sophomore forward Marie-Philip Poulin, who assisted on Tutino's game-winner after missing 18 games due to injury.
Maine (10-8-5, 4-6-0 WHEA) almost had itself a 1-0 lead within 30 seconds of the opening puck drop, but Sperry robbed the Black Bears’ leading goal scorer with a great glove save from point-blank range.
Sperry’s save proved pivotal, as the Terriers took a 1-0 lead right after the stop. Senior defenseman Kasey Boucher took the puck and dished it to Tutino, who then got it to Wakefield. The senior captain sped down the left wing and then cut across the top of the crease before she slid a backhander under Maine goaltender Brittany Ott (25 saves). It was the 11th goal of the season for Wakefield and it extended her point streak to four games.
BU then made it 2-0 with a power play strike at the 8:16 mark of the opening frame. Wakefield and Poulin combined to set up Tutino, who got a shot off from the left circle that snuck past Ott and inside the right post for the rookie’s team-leading 12th goal of the season. The Lorraine, Que., native now has a goal in each of the last three games.
The Black Bears cut the Terriers’ lead to 2-1 with a power play goal at the 18:12 mark of the second period. BU was killing off a 5-on-3 power play when a scramble ensued right in front of Sperry. Danielle Ward eventually got her stick on the puck and pushed it past Sperry.
The Terriers were plagued by the post all afternoon, as they rang a shot off the pipe on four separate occasions. One such near-miss almost proved beneficial in the waning seconds of the middle stanza. Tutino entered the offensive end and slid the puck across the zone to Wakefield, who blasted a shot off the crossbar. Tutino got the rebound at the right post, but the puck went off her skate. Video review confirmed that the puck went off her leg and never crossed the line, keeping the score at 2-1 entering the third period.
Each team killed off a pair of power play chances in the final frame, with Sperry making a key blocker save at the tail end of the final Maine power play to maintain the Terriers’ advantage.
A strong forecheck and stingy defense in the neutral zone in the final two minutes kept Ott in the Maine net until there were just 35 seconds remaining in regulation. The Black Bears never got a good opportunity with the extra attacker as BU held on for the victory.
These two teams will get reacquainted with one another in just six days as the Terriers welcome Maine for a pair of games at Walter Brown Arena. The first contest will be on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
