No. 6 women’s hockey frustrated by No. 1 Boston College

The No. 6 Boston University women’s hockey team took a trip to Chestnut Hill on Thursday night to take on No. 1 Boston College, but the rivalry game did not go so well for the Terriers.

The nation’s top team stymied the Terrier offense while converting on its many chances to grab a 5-0 win.

In the last meeting between the two teams, BU (21-8-2, 15-5-0 Hockey East) got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. This time, though, it was BC (30-1-1, 20-0-0 Hockey East) who took a two-goal advantage in the opening frame.

On a power play, forward Alex Carpenter tipped freshman Megan Keller’s shot past BU freshman goaltender Erin O’Neil. Six minutes later, freshman Toni Ann Miano beat O’Neil clean to the blocker side with a wrist shot from the left-wing circle.

Penalties stalled the Eagles’ momentum in the second period, but BC freshman goaltender Katie Burt was up to the challenge and kept the Terriers off the board. Late in the period, sophomore Andie Anastos walked into the left circle and picked the top-right corner on O’Neil to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. BC took a late penalty that gave BU a chance to get back in the game, and with 23 seconds remaining, BU head coach Brian Durocher elected to pull O’Neil in favor of an extra skater and a 6-on-4 advantage. The risk did not pay off, though, as forward Haley Skarupa buried the shorthanded empty netter to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead after two periods. BU outshot BC 16-7 in the second period, but the Eagles had more success in capitalizing on their chances.

The Terriers had chances to get on the board in the second, though, as junior assistant captain Kayla Tutino buried a rebound in the crease but had it waved off after a whistle had previously blown play dead.

BU continued to have opportunities in the third period but could not beat Burt. The Eagles then added to their lead late in the closing period as Carpenter took a giveaway at her own line, raced up the left side shorthanded and sniped a shot past O’Neil to seal a 5-0 victory. The goal was Carpenter’s second of the game and a nation-best 31st of the season.

“It was a pretty hard fought hockey game,” Durocher said. “We never gave ourselves a chance to get any momentum going. We did have momentum, as far as territorially, in the second period, but the real momentum is to capitalize and score a goal, and because we didn’t, we could never really change the complexion of the game. Some of that credit goes to their goaltender. Some of that credit goes to us misfiring. Some of the credit goes to a power play that created opportunities but didn’t get a bounce.”

Burt made 28 saves to record her ninth shutout of the season. Her play forced the Terriers into missing the cage on numerous occasions.

“Some people who regularly shoot the puck pretty darn well misfired on some shots, and you’re pressing a little bit. The kid is playing well, and she creates an aura that she’s bigger than she really is,” Durocher said. “If one just finds its way in, we got some quick whistles there in the second period, maybe if one of those whistles was a little slower, we knock in a rebound. But give them credit, give her credit, and we’ve got to find a way to change the complexion of the game.”

O’Neil registered 30 saves in the loss, but she fell victim to some high quality shots from some of the top players in the country. Still, Durocher said he and the Terriers are confident they can rebound strongly when the two teams meet again on Saturday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena in the final game of the regular season. The Terriers, currently sixth in the PairWise Rankings that determine the eight-team NCAA Tournament field, will celebrate senior night before the all-important contest.

“I’d love to have us play exactly the same way we did tonight,” Durocher said. “Come out of the gate, play smart defensively and stay on the defensive side of the puck. We’ve got to capitalize on some opportunities.”