R. Leslie Interview - WTBU

The Boston University women's ice hockey team will make its annual trip to Maine this weekend for a two-game series with the Black Bears in Orono. Puck drop for both Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m.

BU (4-4-1, 3-4-0 WHEA) has momentum on its side after a thrilling 5-3 win over then-No. 4 Boston College on Saturday. The Terriers also have a stretch of recent success against Maine (2-9-0, 1-6-0 WHEA). They are on a four-game win streak against the Black Bears and have won 11 of their last 12 tilts against Maine. Senior Maddie Elia leads the Terriers in goals (5) and points (11) against Maine. Junior Rebecca Leslie is tied with Elia with six assists against the Black Bears, and she has also added two goals for eight points, second on the squad.

Junior Victoria Bach has tallied seven points (3g, 4a) while three Terriers - senior Sarah Steele (4a), senior Samantha Sutherland (2g, 2a) and sophomore Sammy Davis (2g, 2a) have four points apiece. Davis' four points came last year, including a two-goal performance at Maine last October.

It will be a tale of two offenses this weekend, as the Terriers own the nation's second-best scoring average at 3.89 goals per game. Meanwhile, Maine owns the worst offense (1.73 goals per game) in Hockey East. BU is one of just three teams in the nation to have not been held to fewer than two goals in any game this season. The Terriers also boast the third-best power play in the nation, clicking at an impressive 21.6 percent with a player advantage.

The Black Bears share one thing in common with BU, and that's a victory over Boston College this season. Life since that win has not been great, however, as the Black Bears have lost three straight games since then, all by 3-2 margins. Freshman Tereza Vanisova leads Maine in goals (4), assists (5) and points (9), with senior Morgan Sakundiak and junior Catherine Tufts joining her at the four-goal plateau. Freshman goaltender Carly Jackson has played in 10 games, posting a 2.86 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.

Following this weekend's series, BU will face Merrimack in a home-and-home series that begins next Friday, Nov. 18, in North Andover, Massachusetts.