A Heartbreaking Loss

Tuesday night at Walter Brown Arena, the 2012 Women's Beanpot started with a tremendous hockey game between the No. 4 Boston College Eagles and the No. 7 Northeastern Huskies. In addition to both teams being ranked in the top 10 nationally, they also are currently tied for first place in the women's Hockey East standings with identical in-conference records (11-3-2).

Taking the ice as defending Beanpot Champions, the Eagles came up just short of again advancing to the finals. After finishing regulation tied 1-1, the Eagles lost in a shootout 2-0.

After the game, Eagles' head coach Katie King Crowley described the result simply. "[It] was one heck of a hockey game."

The game started quickly with both teams getting numerous shots on goal. With two minutes left in the first, BC was denied a goal on the game's first true scoring chance. Freshman center Alex Carpenter came into the offensive zone and fired a shot around the Northeastern defenseman. As the puck was headed for the bottom left corner, NU goalie Florence Schelling got her skate to the post just in time and made a spectacular toe save.

After the clutch save by its goaltender, Northeastern came out strong to start the second period. After a few early shots, freshman center Kendall Coyne continued to pressure BC's defense. Coyne, a two-time Hockey East player of the month, had a number of chances, none better than a one-timer ripped towards the net that was denied by BC's Corinne Boyles.

The only two goals in the game came in the middle of the period. After stopping a Huskies' shot with her blocker, Boyles left the rebound in front of her crease. Northeastern's Rachel Llanes was able to drive the rebound home and give the Huskies a 1-0 lead with 9:31 to play in the second. Despite capitalizing on the rebound, Northeastern's lead proved to be short-lived.

With two minutes and six seconds remaining in the period, Carpenter took a shot in front of the net. After yet another save by Schelling, a fortuitous rebound landed on the stick of freshman Emily Field. Field shot the puck past the out of position goaltender into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Entering the third period, strong goaltending dominated the remainder of the game. After a scoreless five-minute overtime, the teams entered a shootout. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Schelling proved to be unbeatable. With the first shot of the shootout, senior Mary Restuccia brought the puck down the left side of the ice. After two quick dekes, her backhand shot was blocked by Schelling's right pad.

Northeastern responded immediately with its first shooter, Llanes. The San Jose native used the same move Restuccia attempted, but she was able to beat Boyles stick side low to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

After a shot from the dots by Blake Bolden was stopped, Northeastern's Brittany Esposito had an opportunity to win the game for the Huskies. In an attempt identical to that of Llanes and Restuccia, Esposito forced Boyles to make the first move and slid the puck past her right pad to win the game and earn a finals appearance for the Huskies.

The loss certainly was not a reflection of the Eagles' ability to put pucks on net. After registering 36 shots and Northeastern tallying 42, Crowley acknowledged that both goalies had outstanding performances to keep their teams in the game.

"Both teams' top two or three scorers had opportunities to win the game, and neither was able to do it," Crowley said.

Although its reign as Beanpot Champions is unfortunately over, Crowley was pleased with her team's determination and maturity as a sign of being prepared for a return to the Frozen Four.

"We got opportunities from all three of our lines, and when you get to playoff time and championship time, you're going to have tough games like tonight. We've had a few here lately … and it is encouraging for the future."

The Eagles will take the ice next against the Providence Friars. The game is Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. at Conte Forum. The consolation game for the Beanpot will be next Tuesday night, when BC takes on Harvard.