W. hockey ties Providence in Hockey East opener

Carrying a 2-1 lead late into the third period, the No. 5 Boston University women’s hockey team tied Providence College on a Friars’ goal with nine minutes left in the game in the Terriers’ first Hockey East match of the season.

The Friars (6-2-1, 0-0-1 HE) played an intense first period, with freshman Rebecca Morse scoring a goal 14:46 into the game on a shot that went through BU freshman goalie Kerrin Sperry’s legs. The tally went unanswered by BU (6-1-1, 0-0-1 HE) until late in the second frame.

“The first 10 minutes we gave them too much life because we weren’t quite as prepared as I’d like to be for [Providence’s] intensity,” BU coach Brian Durocher said. “They have a way of putting the stick on you and being strong around the boards and in front of the net.”

With 1:03 left in the second frame, junior forward Jenn Wakefield scored her team-leading third power-play goal of the season to even out the score at one apiece. Junior defenseman Tara Watchorn passed the puck to graduate student defenseman Catherine Ward at the blue line. Ward then passed to Wakefield at the top of the left circle, where the junior slapped it past Friar goalie Genevieve Lacasse.

Wakefield tallied her team-leading 10th goal of the season 3:59 into the third to give the Terriers their only lead of the game. Ward earned her second point of the game, getting the puck out of the defensive zone and sending it over to Wakefield who notched a shot past Lacasse.

“Jenn Wakefield had a wonderful night in that she picked up both our goals for us,” Durocher said. “She scored on a power play with a tremendous slap shot from the side to beat an All-American-type goaltender in Lacasse. She was clearly there for us [Friday] night as an offensive leader for this team.”

With 8:25 left in the third period, Providence junior Kate Bacon notched a goal to tie the game. The two teams had a combined five shots on goal during overtime, but neither team was able to score.

“The disappointment of the night was that we didn’t find a way to close the deal either by getting a third goal. . . or even just keeping them off the scoreboard at the end of the game,” Durocher said.

Sperry had another quality start, with 27 saves in her fifth consecutive game.

“I think consistent is a solid word for Kerrin,” Durocher said. “She’s making the saves we expect out of her and coming up with some great ones. I think right after we had gotten ahead 2-1 somebody had a breakaway and she had a huge save that I thought might have been a catalyst to us getting out with a 2-1, or 3-1 win. But give Providence credit, they came back and fought fairly late in the game.”

The Terriers will face off against the Friars again on Saturday, but it will be a slightly different team taking the ice for BU. Wakefield, Watchorn and freshman forward Marie-Philip Poulin will not be present for the next four games as they will be participating in the Four Nation’s Cup for the Canadian national team.

“We’re going to have to be prepared with a little bit of a change of face out there in that three people important to the team are leaving. . . so that changes the complexion of our team,” Durocher said. “People will probably be playing with some slightly new faces. We haven’t decided exactly what way we’ll go.”

Sophomore netminder Alissa Fromkin will also return after sitting out due to a minor leg injury after earning a 6-2 win over Union College on Oct. 9.

“Without a doubt, having just a single-game weekend was kind of tricky as to whether to give [Fromkin] a crack right there and a shot at action or if we should wait one more week,” said Durocher.

“Because it was the first of the Hockey East games and because Kerrin was on a little bit of a roll here, I decided to stay with her for this single weekend and we’ll get Alissa back at it next week. I’m looking for good things from her.”