The Boston University women’s ice hockey team officially opened its inaugural season on Friday night against Northeastern at Matthews Arena. In an early Women’s Hockey East match-up, the Terriers dropped a close game by a 4-3 decision. BU had a number of solid chances late in the game but could not get the equalizer. Although it was a tough loss, the back-and-forth game proved that the Terriers should be competitive against teams of Northeastern’s caliber.
“It was a solid game,” said BU Head Coach Brian Durocher. “We played with a lot of energy and heart. It was very positive. “We played an even game against an established team. We had chances at the end; we just couldn’t get that last bounce.”
BU got on the board first at 11:32 in the first period when Caroline Bourdeau picked up a loose puck from Maeghan Ouimet along the right boards, skated across the crease and put a backhand shot past Northeastern’s stand-out goalie, Marisa Hourihan.
Northeastern responded at 18:02 when highly-touted freshman Ashley Bielawski took a loose puck from the neutral zone, skated in and put one by BU freshman goalie Allyse Wilcox.
The Huskies added another goal six and a half minutes into the second period when Northeastern’s top scorer a year ago Amy Goodney took a pass from Nikki Petrich behind the net and scored on a wraparound. Northeastern went up 3-1 at 14:43 when Jessica Coppney scored after sending a centering pass from the back of the net for a deflection past Wilcox.
The Terriers got a big lift when Genevieve Laing scored with 59 seconds remaining in the period, bringing the score to 3-2. Laing took the puck from Caitlin Reddy at center ice and skated past the defender and put a bullet over Hourihan’s right shoulder.
The Huskies came right back in the third period when Crystal Rochon made it 4-2 at 5:28 in the period.
BU stormed back when Gina Kearns stole a pass on the penalty kill and raced down the ice and beat the goalie five-hole. The Terriers had chances late in the game to tie but had to skate five on five with the goalie pulled when Erin Seman got a five minute major and game misconduct when she got called for hitting the goalie at 17:46 in the period. BU put pressure on and had some close shots, but could not put one in the net.
The Terriers will look to build on the strong performance when they play their home opener on Tuesday, Oct. 11, against Quinnipiac at Walter Brown Arena.
