MICHELLE JAY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Having not lost a game since a Nov. 9 tilt against the University of New Hampshire, the No. 5 Boston University women’s hockey team utilized its strong power-play unit as it extended its winning streak to six games this past weekend with a win on the road against the University of Vermont Friday and a home victory over UNH (10–13–2, 6–6–1 Hockey East) Sunday.
“I like the fact that we’ve been resilient and that we’re finding ways to close out games,” said BU (17–3–3, 12–2–1 Hockey East) coach Brian Durocher after Sunday’s win over the Wildcats. “Whatever it takes — the power play the last few games, even strength earlier in the year — they’re all ways to win the game and a number of people are contributing, helping and getting the job done.”
On Friday, freshman forward Jordan Juron left her mark as one such contributor as she tallied two power-play goals and had a total of three points during BU’s 5–2 win over the Catamounts (6–14–3, 4–5–3 Hockey East).
With the Terriers on the power play toward the end of the first period, Juron picked up a deflected shot from the stick of junior defenseman Shannon Doyle and tossed the shot by Vermont netminder Roxanne Douville for her first goal of the game. Within two minutes, however, the Catamounts evened out the score with a goal by forward Amanda Pelkey, who capitalized on a two-on-one breakaway.
While Vermont forward Erin Wente managed to score the Catamounts’ second goal of the game during the second frame, UVM could not overcome a three-goal period that included tallies from BU’s top scorers — freshman forward Sarah Lefort, junior co-captain Marie-Philip Poulin and sophomore forward Kayla Tutino.
Juron, who was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week for her performance, rounded out the scoring just over six minutes into the third period, giving the Latham, N.Y., native her first multi-goal game.
“She took advantage of her opportunity,” Durocher said of Juron. “It’s nice to know you’ve got people who can step up.”
On Sunday, sophomore defenseman Shannon Stoneburgh and Doyle made the jump for the Terriers, as the squad defeated New Hampshire, who is accountable for the Terriers’ last loss.
Donned in pink for the seventh annual Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer game, BU opened up scoring when Stoneburgh picked up her own rebound to notch her fourth goal of the season. Similar to the game against Vermont, the Wildcats did not remain behind for long as forward Caroline Broderick evened up the score just over a minute later.
With 3:15 left in the first period, New Hampshire defenseman Kailey Chappell went to the penalty box after she tripped junior forward Louise Warren. With the Terriers holding a player advantage, Doyle took a shot from the point that slid right in between UNH goaltender Jenn Gilligan’s glove and the pipe to give the Terriers another one-goal lead.
Once again, the Wildcats came back to tie it early in the second, but a power-play goal by senior forward Isabel Menard, her 10th goal of the season, gave the Terriers the lead they would need to eventually defeat New Hampshire.
While neither team would go on to score in the third period, the frame was highlighted by a body checking penalty by New Hampshire forward Kayla Mork, whose hit on freshman forward Rebecca Russo left Russo on the ground in severe pain for several minutes.
“I think the kid lost her edge and went down and really kind of submarined her,” Durocher said of the play. “The doctors are looking at it, but don’t think it’s too serious.
“They really probably won’t know until [Monday or Tuesday] to see if there’s any swelling, see if there’s any changes in the next 24 to 48 hours that might indicate something different.”
Although Durocher said he was pleased with certain elements of his team’s performance during the weekend, he did note that the Terriers need to improve on decreasing their penalties in the coming weeks. After not having a penalty in the first 26 minutes of the game against UNH, the Terriers accumulated four, including three in the second period.
“If somebody gets a penalty once in a while for going to the net hard and there’s a charging call, I can live with it,” Durocher said. “But not the penalties that are stick penalties a long ways from our net. We have to eliminate those.”
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