Boston University
16-9-2
Providence
8-17-1
Four-Goal Second Period Pushes BU Past PC, 4-2
January 24, 2016 | Women's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A four-goal second period erased a 2-0 deficit and lifted the Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Providence on Sunday afternoon at Schneider Arena.
BU (16-9-2, 13-4-2 WHEA) completed a weekend sweep of Providence (8-17-1, 4-11-1 WHEA), outscoring the Friars, 9-3, over the two games. The Terriers have now earned a point in 11 of their last 12 league tilts.
Junior Maddie Elia, senior Rebecca Russo and sophomore Victoria Bach each finished with a goal and an assist while sophomore Rebecca Leslie tallied two assists. Freshman Mary Grace Kelley collected her first collegiate goal, which proved to be the game-winner. Seniors Sarah Lefort and Kayla Tutino both assisted on Bach's marker.
Sophomore Erin O'Neil made 29 saves to earn her 10th win of the season. She stopped all 19 shots she faced in the final two periods, including a 14-save final frame.
Providence took a 2-0 lead into the second period, but Elia got the Terriers on the board just 33 seconds into the middle frame. Russo chipped the puck behind the net for Leslie, who then found Elia in front of the net. The junior sent the puck past Sarah Bryant (30 saves) for her 11th goal of the year.
Russo tied the game at the 4:40 mark. Freshman Connor Galway banked a pass off boards to Leslie at the PC blue line. She skated into the zone with Elia and Russo to form a 3-on-1. Leslie dished back to Elia, skated to the right post, got the puck back from Elia, and then found Russo at the left post for the finish.
Kelley's first collegiate goal came with 11:41 left in the period. Bach intercepted a clearing pass and drove to the net, but she lost control of the puck. The disc bounced off a Friar skate, however, and came right to Kelley. She collected it between the circles and roofed a shot over Bryant.
Just 12 seconds later, Bach doubled the Terriers' lead. Tutino began the sequence in the neutral zone by forcing a turnover and getting the puck to Lefort. Lefort gained the zone and found Bach cutting to the net. Bach finished the play for her 16th goal of the season.
Providence never carried much momentum in the third period but did have a brief 6-on-4 power play late in the third period. Despite the extra attacker, O'Neil made two saves, including a glove stop at the buzzer, to preserve the result.
BU will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 30, when the Terriers host Merrimack at Walter Brown Arena.
