With two weekend road wins under its belt, the No. 5 Boston University women’s hockey team seems to have forgotten how to lose.
The Terriers (7-2-3) extended their unbeaten streak to a program-record nine games with a 2-0 victory at Princeton University Friday and a 5-1 triumph at Quinnipiac University Saturday. Both games were non-conference tuneups for the Terriers before their first meeting of the year with Hockey East foe Boston College this Saturday.
BU was sharp Friday against Princeton (3-5-0), a team that BU coach Brian Durocher called ‘the stronger of the two opponents’ of the weekend. Although the Tigers out shot BU, 30-27, over the course of the contest, the Terriers held on to win thanks to outstanding play from senior goaltender Allyse Wilcox. She converted all 30 save opportunities, earning her first shutout of the season and the sixth of her collegiate career.
‘She made a couple of fantastic saves,’ Durocher said of Wilcox’s performance Friday. ‘She controlled a lot of pucks well so they didn’t get any second opportunities. In particular, a real bang-bang two saves in a row that came up big in the second half of the game.’
Senior forward Erin Seman and sophomore forward Jillian Kirchner supplied the offense. Seman put the Terriers up 1-0 in the first period with her fourth goal of the season and 11th career game-winner ‘-‘- a team record. Kirchner added an insurance goal six seconds into the second period, assisted by freshman Jenelle Kohanchuk. It was enough for the win, thanks to Wilcox and BU’s superb defensive play.
BU had more breathing room Saturday with a convincing disposal of Quinnipiac (2-11-1).
After a sluggish start by both teams, BU took the lead halfway through the first period on a score by senior forward Gina Kearns off Kohanchuk’s assist. Quinnipiac junior Evelina Husar evened the score a few minutes later, but BU sophomore forward Lauren Cherewyk put the Terriers ahead with one second remaining in the period with her team-leading seventh goal of the year. Junior forward Melissa Anderson assisted on the goal, which was BU’s second in only five first-period shots.
BU created more opportunities after the stale first period, outshooting the Bobcats 22-3 over the latter two frames. Anderson energized the Terrier attack with two more assists, both of which found Seman , who bumped the score to 4-1. Freshman defenseman Tara Watchorn built on her impressive rookie campaign with an unassisted goal late in the final period, finalizing the 5-1 win.’ ‘ ‘
‘We came out with a different level of intensity, different level of composure in the second and third periods,’ Durocher said. ‘The third period was a real workman-like game. It was a real good road performance.’
The Terriers remained fresh enough to take down both weekend opponents despite a two-week break in their schedule. Durocher said the team worked on conditioning for one week before honing some technical aspects of its game during the second off-week.
‘The girls were getting sick of playing against each other, so it was nice that a different color uniform was on the ice against us,’ Durocher said. ‘They were certainly ready to play.’
BU’s frontline trio of Anderson, Seman and Cherewyk remained in top form over the weekend, adding to its reputation as the team’s deadliest offensive combination.
‘I give them a lot of credit for their overall play,’ Durocher said. ‘When you look ahead to Boston College or any team we’re going to play, clearly you want a line that has the potential to be our top line at their best.’
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