Elia gives BU spark in two weekend wins

It is no secret the No. 8 Boston University women’s hockey team has been successful this season.

The Terriers (9-1-1, 6-0-0 Hockey East) have continued to thrive after a runner-up finish at the Frozen Four in Minnesota last season. This past weekend against the University of Maine, the Terriers rattled off back-to-back wins to remain undefeated in Hockey East play. Despite many players contributing to the victories, the weekend sweep may never have happened without the play of freshman forward Maddie Elia.

“Maddie’s a kid who had an offensive pedigree prior to coming to Boston University,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “She’s carried it on right with the team here. I’m happy that she’s making the little, subtle plays.”

Elia started off her career as part of the Terrier team with a bang, scoring two goals in an exhibition contest against Western University of Ontario, helping the Terriers force overtime and eventually come away with a 4-3 win.

Before taking on the Black Bears (0-7-3, 0-3-3 Hockey East), Elia totaled six points, scoring one goal and assisting on five of her teammates’ goals this season. After the weekend was over, she had two more goals and added three assists.

With the Terriers down a goal heading into second period Saturday afternoon, Elia stepped up just more than three minutes into the period and helped the Terriers get on the board. Senior captain Louise Warren took the puck into the offensive zone and looked to start a play.

Warren circled the net, but was denied on a wraparound chance by the pad of goaltender Meghann Treacy. The puck was still loose and on a second effort, Elia deposited the puck into the back of the net for the goal.

“It was a scramble in front and a few people poked at it,” Elia said. “It just trickled in behind the goalie. I didn’t know it went until after … We just had to work hard.”

Just a little over two minutes after her goal, Elia came through again, this time with an assist on the go-ahead goal for the Terriers.

Elia brought the puck in on the attack along the left wing boards. She dished the puck over to freshman defenseman Sarah Steele, who slapped the puck from the point, which was deflected into the net by sophomore forward Sarah Lefort for a 2-1 Terrier lead.

Up a goal at 16:01 in the same frame, Elia struck again for her second goal of the contest. BU controlled the puck while on the power play, and after senior defenseman Kaleigh Fratkin took a shot from the point, Elia was on the doorstep to pick up a loose rebound and put it by Treacy for her second goal of the game — her first multi-goal game in the regular season at the collegiate level.

“We were all just working really hard,” Elia said. “My two goals were garbage goals. It was just bearing down and getting them in that was the key.”

Elia’s final point in her four-point barrage during the first game happened when she took a pass and took a shot on net. While the shot was stopped by Treacy, Elia’s shot allowed for a rebound chance, which Warren picked up and put in the back of the net for a 5-1 lead.

The next day, Elia recorded her fifth and final point of the weekend in the third period of play. At the 11:51 mark, the Terriers clung on to a slim 2-1 lead. Elia took a pass from Warren in front of the goal crease and took a low shot that bounced off the pads of goalie Mariah Fujimagari.

The chance bounced away from the crease, but Fratkin corralled the puck wristed it in the lower left corner of the goal. Elia’s assist loomed large at the end of the game, as the goal ended up being the game-winner.

Durocher said he is pleased not only with the way Lewiston, N.Y., played this weekend, but her play this entire season.

“I know she’s very dynamic with the puck,” Durocher said. “Every night she’s a threat, and she seems to beat someone once or twice every game. If you’re moving the puck, you’re going to end up getting points along the way.”