The Boston University women’s hockey program made sure its inaugural varsity game would be one to remember.
Despite being outshot 23-13, the Terriers never trailed in a 2-2 tie against Quinnipiac. BU’s Nicki Wiart scored the first D-I women’s goal ever at Walter Brown Arena, and teammate Caroline Bourdeau had the first power play goal. Allyse Wilcox was the difference in goal for the Terriers with 21 saves. BU improved to 0-1-1 following up a narrow 4-3 defeat in their inaugural game last Friday.
“Allyse played very well,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “She didn’t give up any loose pucks or bad rebounds. We played really well down low. The kids showed a lot of heart and fight.
“I also give a lot of credit to Quinnipiac, they played with a high tempo, their top players played well and got us on our heels a little bit.”
For Quinnipiac, two freshmen scored their first collegiate goals to lead their team back from one-goal deficits. Elyse Cole had a goal and an assist. Janelle Wolitski had 11 saves in net.
BU held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission on Wiart’s goal despite being outshot 4-3 in the period. Her score came with six minutes left in the period as she skidded the puck past Wolitski on a rebound off of classmate Laurel Koller’s shot.
Quinnipiac’s MacLean answered BU’s first goal just over three minutes into the second period. A few minutes later, BU’s Bourdeau sent the puck through a pack of players just outside the crease on the power play to regain the lead. At 10:22, Quinnipiac’s Cole followed up her own face-off and buried the puck over Wilcox’s shoulder to tie the game again.
In overtime, BU came up with the golden opportunities. but Wolitski came up big to preserve the tie. She stopped Wiart on a breakaway from the right side and Gina Kearns on a subsequent wrap-around.
Quinnipiac returns to action on Friday night, October 14, when they face the Boston College Eagles at Kelley Rink. The Eagles have received votes in the first two national polls released on October 3 and 10. The Terriers will try again for their varsity win with a home pair against Union this upcoming weekend.
