Boston University
16-5-1, 9-2-0HEA
Providence
10-14-0, 5-6-0HEA
No. 9 Terriers Edged by Providence, 4-3
January 17, 2014 | Women's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Freshman Maddie Elia scored two goals and sophomore Sarah Lefort notched her NCAA-best 18th goal of the season, but the No. 9 Boston University women's ice hockey team dropped a 4-3 decision to Providence on Friday night at Schneider Arena.
BU (16-5-1, 9-2-0 WHEA) twice led Providence (10-14-0, 5-6-0 WHEA) by a two-goal margin, but the Friars erased both leads and scored a power-play goal with 2:36 remaining in regulation to earn the victory.
Elia tallied the Terriers' first two goals of the contest before Lefort lit the lamp on a power-play chance in the second stanza. Senior Kaleigh Fratkin and sophomore Lillian Ribeirinha-Braga each had two assists while Lefort also added an assist as four Terriers put together a two-point night. Senior goaltender Kerrin Sperry made 29 saves for BU.
The Terriers opened the scoring just 2:09 into the proceedings thanks to a quick power-play goal. Off of the ensuing offensive-zone faceoff, Lefort won a battle along half-wall and got puck to Fratkin at the right point. She fired a shot towards goal and Elia was in perfect position to redirect the puck past Sarah Bryant for her seventh strike of the season.
A fantastic individual effort from Elia led to her second goal of the game at 16:17 mark of the opening period. Ribeirinha-Braga gathered the puck along BU blue line and moved it up to Elia, who dangled around a defender in the Providence zone before beating Bryant short side.
The Friars got a goal back before the first 20 minutes expired Beth Hanrahan got behind the defense and capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway. BU responded just 3:14 into the second stanza, however, with another power-play goal. Fratkin found Ribeirinha-Braga at the left point, and the sophomore defenseman sent a shot towards goal. Bryant made the initial save, but Lefort was right in front to hammer home the rebound.
Providence potted two goals in a span of 1:10 to even the score, 3-3, entering the final frame. Rebecca Morse tallied the first of those two markers at 11:57 before Cassidy Carels struck on the power play at 13:07. Both teams played an even third period until the Friars earned a late power-play chance. With just 10 seconds remaining on the player-advantage, Carels deflected a shot past Sperry to get the game-winning goal.
BU will return to Walter Brown Arena on Sunday (Jan. 19) to host Northeastern. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
