Women's Hockey Avenges Loss to UNH

by Greg Picker

The No. 8 Boston University Terriers took down the No. 3 University of New Hampshire Wildcats 5-4 in a shootout this past Saturday night at the Whittemore Center in Durham, NH. BU (3-3-5, 1-2-1-1 Hockey East) had to come all the way back from a 3-0 UNH (8-1-3, 4-0-1-0 HE) lead after the first period to get the job done.

Starting in goal for the Terriers was freshman goalie Alissa Fromkin (’13). It was just Fromkin’s ('13) second start of her career, the first being a 4-4 tie at Wayne St. on October 16. Fromkin would show her freshman nerves early as she let in a weak Kelly Cahill shot from the right faceoff circle in just 1:10 into the first period. The rest of the period BU’s defense left Fromkin out to dry as mistakes cost the Terriers. A giveaway at the UNH blue line lead to a Sarah Cuthbert breakaway goal at 13:22 of the first making the score 2-0. With less than a minute to go in the first period, the potent first line for UNH got on the board with a goal on a 2 on 1 break. The Micaela Long pass was initially broken up by the lone BU defender, however Kristine Horn came in and took the puck and put it past an outstretched Fromkin to make the score 3-0.

Despite out-shooting UNH, BU went into the first intermission very disappointed with the score. “You could go out there and out-shoot them (9-8), but it means nothing if you’re playing kind of playing pond hockey” head coach Brian Durocher said.

The second period would be a memorable one for the Terriers. Not only did they get their comeback going, but two Terriers would pick up their first career goals. 5:01 into the period, freshman Shannon Mahoney (’13) put in a rebound off of a Holly Lorms (’11) shot making the score 3-1. Just over a minute later, freshman Kathryn Miller (’13) scored on a pass by Jillian Kirchner (’11) to cut the deficit to one. Fromkin also stood strong making, eight saves in the period.

In the third period, the Wildcats would get into penalty trouble beginning with a Courtney Birchard body checking penalty 7:14 into the period. As Birchard came out of the box, there was confusion on the UNH bench as to who would be going onto the ice, resulting in a too many men on the ice penalty. Before that power play expired, Micaela Long would be called for a hooking penalty setting up a BU 5 on 3 and a golden opportunity to tie the game. Just eight seconds after the five on three began, defenseman Kasey Bocuher (’12) ripped a shot from the left point that got past the UNH goalie Kayley Herman to tie the game at 3. The Terriers were not done as they were determined to do something that has never been done before by any team in the conference. The Wildcats came into the game 65-0-9 at the Whittemore Center against conference opponents since Hockey East’s formation in 2003. With less than two minutes to go, Jill Cardella (’13) deflected a Carly Warren (’12) shot from the right point would sneak past Herman to give the Terriers a 4-3 lead. The referees were unsure whether or not Cardella deflected to the puck with a high stick, which would negate the goal. After a lengthy review the goal stood and BU would be just 1:38 away from beating the Wildcats.

However, just 15 seconds later, Kasey Boucher (’12) took a hooking penalty giving UNH a late power play and a chance to tie up the game. The Wildcats pulled their goalie giving them a 6 on 4 advantage. After the ensuing faceoff, the Terriers did not control the puck as the nation’s leading scorer Kelly Paton went to work directing the power play. She found Birchard who took a slap shot from the high slot and put it through the five hole of Fromkin tying up the game. With less than 10 seconds left in the game, Paton and long created a 2 on 1 opportunity, resulting in a beautiful chance for Long, but Fromkin made quite possibly her best save of the game by kicking out the left pad on a great deke by Long, saving the game for BU.

After an uneventful overtime in which neither team had any strong chances, the game would head to a shootout.

“I really thought Alissa looked calm and cool in the shootout against some high end hockey players.”