The margin of error is always small in hockey, but when the game is fast-paced and tightly contested, the slightest mishap attracts even greater scrutiny.
This phenomenon was on full display in the Boston University women’s ice hockey team’s 7-1 victory over Yale University on Tuesday night, as several goals arrived when there was seemingly no clear-cut chance.
“We tell the kids, you keep moving your feet and be ready in front of the net on both ends,” said BU (6-4, 4-1 Hockey East) assistant coach Katie Lachapelle. “Whether your knees are bent [and] ready to defend or when there is a quick error in front for them, to be able to get that shot off quick is something that we try to preach to them.”
On BU’s second goal of the evening, the play appeared all but dead, yet the Terriers conjured up a scoring opportunity.
After senior forward Rebecca Russo chased down a clearance deep in Yale’s (1-3) zone, she threw the puck in front of Bulldogs junior Hanna Mandl’s goal. A scrum ensued, but the puck ricocheted onto the stick of junior forward Maddie Elia, who rifled it into the far-side netting.
A similar occurrence unfolded on BU’s third goal, as the slightest bit of wayward movement from Mandl resulted in senior forward Jordan Juron’s second goal of the year. Juron collected a feed from junior linemate Samantha Sunderland, only to then shoot across the grain and into an open net.
“I think in the past we’ve been trying to do a little too much and stickhandling a little too much,” Elia said. “Today we just kept it simple and threw a lot of pucks on net. We had a lot of success with that.”
While BU capitalized on the slightest margins of error, the Bulldogs also reaped the rewards of a superficially calm sequence. Just as Elia’s second-period penalty for bodychecking expired, sophomore defenseman Savannah Newton blocked a Yale shot, only for it to deflect into the path of senior Jamie Haddad.
Seizing her chance, the veteran forward caught BU sophomore goaltender Erin O’Neil off guard. Although O’Neil registered 29 saves, it only took one lapse and an unlucky bounce to spoil a strong defensive showing.
“I know we blocked a shot and it ended up over on the far wing, and the girl got a nice shot off,” O’Neil said. “We did everything right on that penalty kill and sometimes the puck just goes in the net. You hate to see it, but it just happens sometimes.”
Looking down the road, the margin of error will become even smaller when Durocher’s side soon encounters a high profile team. The Terriers will face No. 2 Boston College on Nov. 7 and 10 in a home-and-home set. BC (10-0, 4-0 Hockey East) historically sits atop Hockey East and the national championship picture.
Goals, assists and crucial stops will be increasingly difficult against the Eagles, but as Tuesday night’s game demonstrated, all it takes is one quick moment to control a game.
“That’s always been a game that’s kind of been off in the future and it’s very, very exciting that it’s now,” O’Neil said. “BC is a very, very good hockey team, but I think that we’re ready for it and we’re riding high right now. We just have to carry that forward and keep going with that in the BC game.”
Jonathan's a New Englander who writes about sports, features and politics. He currently covers men's hockey at BU, worked as Sports Editor during the spring 2016 semester and is on the FreeP's Board of Directors. Toss him a follow on Twitter at @jonathansigal.
