The puck dropped on another new ice hockey season as the Boston College women's team opened up the 2003-04 campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Bobcats of Quinnipiac University (1-4-0) at the Kelley Rink last Sunday night.
The Eagles (1-0-0) found themselves in an early hole when, only 2:08 into the game, Quinnipiac forward Vicky Graham stuffed the puck past BC junior and goaltender Lisa Davis. The team demonstrated a resiliency, as most quality teams do, scoring two goals in the next 3:19 to take the lead for good in the game.
Freshman forward Michelle Lombardi forced the puck into the net to tie the game on a goal similar to the Bobcats' tally. Shortly after that, senior co-captain Kaitlin McGrath put in the eventual game-winner following a great glove save by sophomore Jen Fischl to keep the puck inside the blue line. Following this initial scoring barrage, the final 14 minutes and change were rather quiet for both squads and BC headed to the locker room up 2-1.
The game continued its uneventful ways until BC went on a power play at 12:04 in the second period on an interference call. The several chances the Eagles had in the two-minute advantage were fruitless, but the momentum of the game from that point on belonged to BC.
BC killed an early-third period Quinnipiac power play and found itself with one of its own with a little under 16 minutes remaining in regulation. Needing only half of the prescribed two-minute, five-on-four advantage, sophomore forward Kristin Blundo went "five-hole" on Quinnipiac netminder Catherine Lapare to seal the deal for the Eagles. With Davis continuing to make one spectacular save after another, including turning away a two-on-one breakaway for the Bobcats late in the period, the result was not in doubt.
As the final horn sounded within the arena, BC had outshot Quinnipiac 21-15, killing two QU power plays along the way. The special teams play contributed to the victory.
"It was really important to set the tone for the season after working hard for months in training," said McGrath game-winning goal scorer.
Aside from being their season and home opener, the game was very important for the Eagles as it was the first victory for new head coach Tom Mutch, who took over for Tom Babson last year. "We knew from the first day that he would help to turn this program around," said McGrath.
Despite the promise for the remainder of the season, BC is not too content just yet. The Eagles have a long season head of them, and the team wants to take it one game at a time.
"The entire team played well tonight and the intensity was very high [but] we shouldn't settle with just the win tonight. We can learn a lot from watching the video and in practice," added McGrath.
The team seemed focused against Quinnipiac, and with McGrath at the helm.
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