BU Begins Title Defense Friday against Vermont
February 25, 2016 | Women's Ice Hockey
| Women's Ice Hockey (20-12-2, 17-5-2 WHEA) vs. Vermont (8-23-3, 6-15-3 WHEA) | |
| Date | Friday, Feb. 26 (7 p.m.) | Saturday, Feb. 27 (3 p.m.) |
| Venue | Walter Brown Arena (Boston, Mass.) |
| Game Notes | BU |
| Live Stats | Friday | Saturday |
| Watch | Friday | Saturday |
| Tickets | Hockey East Quarterfinal Ticket Information |
| @BUGameDay | @BUwhockey | |
The Boston University women's ice hockey team will begin its quest for a fifth straight Hockey East championship on Friday night when the Terriers host Vermont in game one of a best-of-three quarterfinal series at Walter Brown Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
BU (20-12-2, 17-5-2 WHEA) swept Vermont (8-23-3, 6-15-3 WHEA) in last year's Hockey East quarterfinals by a combined score of 15-3. The third-seeded Terriers have won five of the last six league titles and are 17-3 all-time in the Hockey East playoffs, including a 7-0 record in the quarterfinals.
During their run of four straight titles, the Terriers have allowed just 18 goals and have not allowed more than two goals in any of those 13 games. BU has averaged 4.92 goals per game since 2012 and has allowed just 1.38 goals per game in that span.
Senior captain Kayla Tutino leads all active Hockey East skaters with 15 points on eight goals and seven assists. Tutino’s eight markers also lead all active league players. Senior Sarah Lefort is next best with 14 points (5g, 9a); both players have done that in 10 games. Lefort’s nine helpers are best among current WHEA skaters.
Junior Maddie Elia has recorded eight points (4g, 4a) in six playoff games, including the game-winning goal in the 2014 championship as well as a goal in the 2015 title game. Senior Rebecca Russo also has eight points thanks to three goals and five assists, including four points (1g, 3a) against Vermont last year. Sophomore Victoria Bach notched six points (1g, 5a) in last year’s tournament.
Bach is in the midst of her second straight 20-goal season, and she has notched 15 points over the last nine games, scoring six goals and adding nine assists in that span. Bach is on a four-game point streak entering this weekend (3g, 5a) and is tied for first on the squad with 43 points (20g, 23a).
The Catamounts fell to the sixth seed after taking just one of a possible four points at Merrimack last weekend. Since a 3-3 tie against BU on Jan. 16, UVM has won just two of its last 10 games - a sweep of New Hampshire on Feb. 5-6.
Senior Dayna Colang leads the Catamounts in goals (12), assists (15) and points (27). Sophomore Taylor Willard has 18 points thanks to nine goals and nine assists, and freshman Daria O’Neill also has nine helpers. Junior Madison Litchfield has started 22 of the 24 games in which she has appeared, going 5-14-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
Game two is set for Saturday at 3 p.m., and game three, if necessary, will be Sunday at 3 p.m.
