Russo recieves Player of the Week honors

Returning home to the friendly confines of Walter Brown Arena, the No. 6 Boston University women’s hockey team saw one of its skaters receive a prestigious accolade, as junior forward Rebecca Russo earned the Hockey East Player of the Week award for her play against conference foes Northeastern University and the University of New Hampshire.

Going up against the crosstown rival Huskies (2-4-3, 1-2 Hockey East) on Oct. 27, Russo and the Terriers (6-2, 3-1 Hockey East) scratched and clawed their way to a 3-2 victory. Russo was key for the early BU attack, scoring two goals, including the game-winner in the second period.

“She’s one of those people who plays with a ton of energy and obviously some speed on the ice,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “She’s someone who is oftentimes a threat as a team member, but certainly individually.”

On Sunday, less than a week later, the Terriers squared off with the Wildcats (2-8-1, 0-4 Hockey East). This time, however, the game took a very different trajectory as it came down to the wire in the third period.

After going down 2-1 midway through the final frame, BU tied the game at the 13:05 mark. And once again, Russo came away with the game-winner, this time with less than five minutes remaining in the game, sending the Terriers to a 4-2 conference win.

“She made a real individual play, getting around somebody and putting the puck away,” Durocher said. “She’s had breakaway opportunities that she’s cashed in on. Without a doubt, I think her speed and her energy are the two things that she really brings to the table. This year, in the early season, she’s probably finished at the best rate she has so far.”

For the Westport, Connecticut native, her three goals this week brought her season total up to five, which ties her for the team-lead with junior forward Sarah Lefort.

O’Neil steps up in Hanson’s absence

With an injury to sophomore goaltender Victoria Hanson, Durocher has not been able to execute the strict netminder rotation he had intended. In the wake of Hanson’s absence, freshman Erin O’Neil has taken the reins between the pipes.

Hanson went down during a game on the road against the University of Maine on Oct. 24. Before her injury, the Stoughton native had allowed just three goals in three games and maintained a .947 save percentage.

In O’Neil’s first start after Hanson’s injury, she struggled. Facing an unimpressive Black Bear (4-5-2, 3-1-1 Hockey East) offense, O’Neil allowed three goals, including two in the third period, as the Terriers dropped the contest 4-2.

In the last week, however, O’Neil has proved herself a worthy replacement. Against Northeastern, she faced 39 shots and stopped 37 of them, leading BU to victory. A similar story unfolded against UNH, when she and the Terriers were outshot 34-30, yet she stopped 32 of the Wildcats’ shots on her way to another win.

“Certainly, two [goalies] have put themselves in a horse race to see who’s going to be the starting goalie, if there ever is going to be a starting goalie,” Durocher said. “With an injury, it becomes an opportunity for somebody else, and certainly Erin [O’Neil] has answered the bell in a wonderful fashion.”

Since her loss against Maine, O’Neil has kept up an impressive .945 save percentage to go along with the team’s consecutive victories.

“She had two great games this week. She made some huge saves, which is what you look for in a goaltender,” Durocher said. “She’s grown comfortable and much more confident as good things happen for her. A coach can’t hand you confidence. You have to go out and earn it. When you get that confidence, it allows you to play free and easy and much more assertive in almost any sport.”

Quality opportunities present themselves for Terriers

Although the Terriers offense has not yet lived up to its potential, especially in the absence of senior captain Marie-Philip Poulin, it has consistently generated quality chances on net.

Three of BU’s top four scorers have shooting percentages greater than .250. Russo, Poulin and freshman forward Rebecca Leslie each have begun the season with a remarkable level of efficiency.

“When you’re putting the puck in at that type of rate, it’s impressive,” Durocher said. “It’s a pretty high number and maybe the type of thing that may or may not last throughout the entire season. But in the early going, we’re taking advantage of opportunities.”

Russo currently sits at a .278 clip, while Poulin was shooting at a .294 rate before she went down with an injury. Leading the bunch, though, is the rookie Leslie, who is converting .333 percent of her shots.

If these Terriers can keep up this pace, they will certainly present matchup issues for their opponents throughout the season, Durocher said.

“We play against a lot of really good goaltenders, and you can make good deliveries and take good shots and the goalies are going to stop their share,” he said. “But it’s created some game-winning goals that were very timely.”