Coming off a victory in the first round of the Beanpot on Tuesday, Boston College women’s hockey built off its momentum at the Whittemore Center Arena against New Hampshire on Friday.
BC (16–11, 13–8 Hockey East) held off three power plays from New Hampshire (9–16–2, 7–12–1) to extend its win streak to six games with a 5–3 victory over the Wildcats.
The Eagles dominated in forechecking and puck possession in the first period, but New Hampshire’s Tamara Thierus broke open the scoring with just over eight minutes remaining in the frame. After the goal, officials sent Sidney Fess to the penalty box for a hooking call, putting the Eagles down a goal and a man.
BC maintained its composure, and shortly after the penalty kill, Abby Newhook buried a shot to knot it up at 1–1. Alexie Guay and Kelly Browne were credited with assists. Guay totaled three assists, and Browne scored one goal and made two assists to give both Eagles a three-point outing.
Alongside Newhook, Browne, and Guay, Hannah Bilka kept energy up for the Eagles. On her second assist of the night, Guay fed a pass to Bilka who drove to the net and finished on New Hampshire goaltender Ava Boutilier to claim a 2–1 lead to close out the period.
The Wildcats threatened a comeback in the second frame, but a number of saves from Abigail Levy maintained BC’s lead. BC held New Hampshire scoreless during a penalty kill three minutes into the period. Caroline Goffredo followed it with a goal to make it 3–1 just 30 seconds after the Eagles returned to even strength.
Shortly after, Browne struck again on an assist from Bilka, to put the Eagles up 4–1. Facing a three-goal deficit, the Wildcats replaced Boutilier with Nicky Harnett with 12:47 left in the second period.
Aggressive play characterized the remaining minutes of the second period , as New Hampshire took more penalties.
The Eagles went on a two-man advantage with under three minutes to go in the second frame. BC prevented a frustrated New Hampshire from gaining momentum, and a penalty on New Hampshire’s Kyla Bent with 28 seconds left in the frame put the Eagles on the power play to start the third period.
Momentum began to shift for New Hampshire in the third, though, as Nicole Kelly split BC’s defense off a seam pass through center ice from Marina Alvarez, putting the Wildcats back on the board at 4–2. Kelly scored her second goal of the night four and a half minutes later to pull New Hampshire within one goal at 4–3.
New Hampshire’s third-period effort was too little, too late, though, and BC took advantage of a power-play opportunity where Michaela Boyle scored an unassisted goal—her first of the season—to put the Eagles up 5–3.
After killing off a late penalty, BC walked away with its sixth win in a row.
Featured Image by Aditya Rao / Heights Staff
