Women's Hockey: Terriers Top Robert Morris in OT

by Danielle Medina

The Boston University women’s ice hockey team once again could not hang on to a third period lead. This time though, it didn’t end up costing them, as they still found a way to earn their first win of the season.

BU (1-0-2) was firmly in control entering the third with a 3-0 lead, but Robert Morris (1-2-0) was able to even the game with three unanswered goals to force a third overtime in as many games for BU. However, junior forward Lauren Cherewyk (’11) came through in the clutch and scored the game winning goal for the Terriers with just 23.7 seconds left in the extra frame.

Although this is not the way the Terriers wanted to win the game, they’ll take it.

“The win is the important part of it here,” said BU head coach Brian Durocher, “I told the kids to go home with a smile but don’t be happy with the way we played because we can’t keep giving up leads at home.”

In an interesting twist, it was the defensemen that led the scoring for the Terriers. Senior co-captain Sarah Appleton (’10) scored the first goal with a quick shot that whistled past junior goalie Daneca Butterfield. Junior forward Holly Lorms (’11) cleanly won a faceoff at the right circle sending the puck back to Appleton (’10), who promptly unloaded the one-timer that found the back of the net. Five minutes later, sophomore defenseman Kasey Boucher (’12) ripped one from the point, off the tip of Butterfield’s outstretched glove and in to make it 2-0. This was Boucher’s first career goal here at BU.

“I didn’t score on my own,” Boucher (’12) said about her career night with two goals and an assist. “I got a rebound and I got a nice pass.”

Boucher would score her second goal with four minutes left in the second period to give the Terriers the 3-0 lead that they would carry into the third period. Senior forward Laurel Koller (’10) carried the puck up the right side on a rush and threw a shot on goal. Butterfield (30 saves) stopped Koller’s (’10) initial shot, but Boucher was there to put home the rebound.

In the third period, Robert Morris, coming off a huge road win where they beat then-#4 Minnesota-Duluth of 4-1, finally woke up and gave the Terriers all they could handle for the final 20 minutes. BU sophomore defenseman Tara Watchorn (’12) received a five-minute major for roughing just 2:40 in, and the Colonials were able to capitalize twice on the ensuing power play.

Sophomore forward Brianna Delaney started the scoring for Robert Morris, deflecting senior defenseman Jacki Gibson’s shot from the left point past Terriers senior goalie Melissa Haber (’10). Two minutes later, Gibson let loose an identical shot from the same spot on the ice, and this one would beat Haber ('10) cleanly to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Then, with 9:13 left to play in regulation, sophomore defenseman Whitney Pappas knotted the game up at 3-3 on a fluttering one-timer from the blue line that seemed to hang in the air, as Haber missed it with her glove. Haber, who recorded 24 saves, stood tall against the Colonials attack the rest of the way, and set up the Terriers for the dramatic finish.

“We did not want another repeat [of the games against Ohio State],” said Cherewyk, “And then going into overtime we were just like ‘come on girls let’s get a win here.’”

BU came out determined not to go into another shootout, but the game seemed destined for it. Boucher had an open shot from the high slot that momentarily looked like she was going to earn the hat trick, but Butterfield was up to the task and made the save. However, with the final seconds ticking down, it was Boucher’s effort that sprung Cherewyk for the game-winner.

With the puck bottled up in the neutral zone, Boucher was able to find Cherewyk with a cross-ice pass, giving her an open rush on the right side. As Butterfield came out to challenge the shot, Cherewyk checked to see that she was all alone before doing what she had to do.

“I just saw it,” Cherewyk said, “I took a quick look to my left and saw just me and the goalie and I saw the left side open so I just tucked it away.”

Moving forward, the Terriers will continue their non-conference tour of CHA teams and will leave Walter Brown Arena for the first time as they play a two-game series with Wayne State next week in Detroit.

“Now we’re going to have to bring our act on the road,” Durocher said, “And there’s always things you have to learn going on the road.”

The Terriers next two games will be Friday, October 16th at 7:00 pm and Saturday, October 17th at 4:00 pm. You can listen to both broadcasts with WTBU.