Though the women’s hockey team finally showed some flashes of brilliance, it learned it takes more than one strong period to win a game.
After sticking with No. 2 University of New Hampshire (6-1-0, 4-0-0 Hockey East) through the first period last night, the Terriers came out flat in the second period and let the game slip away. The 4-1 home loss leaves the Terriers (0-5-2, 0-2-0) still searching for their first win nearly four weeks into the season.
BU’s offense struggled to generate quality scoring chances, but the defense clamped down to allow even play through the first 20 minutes. An inability to capitalize on opportunities and a fast, powerful UNH squad combined to shift the game in the Wildcats’ favor early in the second period.
Playing without junior co-captain Sarah Russell, BU was unfazed by the vaunted Wildcats attack early on. UNH maintained possession for most of the first period, but the Terriers forced their way into UNH shooting lanes, making it difficult for the Wildcats to send anything on net. Junior goaltender Allyse Wilcox had no problems turning aside each of the six shots sent her way in the first.
UNH freshman Julia Marty took a penalty for interference at 16:13. Her infraction was followed almost immediately by a crosschecking penalty on junior defenseman Maggie Joyce, setting up a 5-on-3 Terrier power. BU has been able to capitalize on the power play so far, but it couldn’t keep the puck in the zone during the two-man advantage, managing just one shot that skirted wide of the net.
“That definitely put the momentum in their hands. We would have liked to get one out there,” said junior co-captain Gina Kearns. “Their penalty killers did a great job and they were feeling it. We’ve just got to work on moving the puck quicker and supporting each other down low.”
UNH, sparked by the penalty kill, picked up the pace and gained the man-advantage with 49 seconds left in the first after BU junior Erin Seman was called for tripping. With the momentum clearly in their favor, the Wildcats started the second stanza playing inspired hockey, banging home two quick goals to gain the lead.
The first goal came on the power play on a shot from the point by junior defenseman Kacey Bellamy. The puck caromed around in front, and Wilcox hurried to corral it, but freshman standout Jenn Wakefield stuffed it home for her sixth goal of the year to make the score 1-0 in the Wildcats’ favor.
Thirty seconds later, the Wildcats used crisp passing deep in the Terriers’ zone to go up 2-0. Senior Leah Craig took the puck from behind the net and moved up top where she found plenty of open ice. A quick pass through the crease to senior Sadie Wright-Ward, who knocked the puck home, drained the fight out of the once-energetic Terriers.
“We kind of disintegrated there for the last 18 minutes [of the second period],” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “It’s not easy to explain.”
After being outshot, 19-3, in the second period, BU kept the game close until Wakefield struck again on the power play, this time on a coast-to-coast beauty at 9:56 in the third. Wakefield carried the puck from behind her own net all the way up the right wing and fired a wristshot top shelf to beat Wilcox.
“We never really got control and settled it like we’ve done quite a bit this year. It brings us back to the drawing board,” Durocher said.
BU got one back at 16:54 when sophomore Nicki Wiart sent a soft shot high on net. The puck was misplayed by freshman netminder Kayley Herman and trickled in, cutting the lead to 3-1. UNH added an empty-net goal by senior Jennifer Hitchcock at 18:16.