March 8, 2008

Box Score

Storrs, Conn. - The Boston University women's ice hockey team suffered an 8-0 defeat at the hands of No. 2 New Hampshire Saturday at Freitas Ice Forum, knocking the Terriers out of the Hockey East playoffs in the first round.

Boston University (15-16-3, 11-9-1 HE) fell behind early in its first playoff appearance since becoming a varsity program in 2005. After surrendering a first period goal, five UNH scores in the second period put the Terriers in a deep hole.

The Wildcats scored the games first goal at 9:55 of the first period while both teams had four skaters on the ice. Junior Maggie Joyce found sophomore Micaela Long around the middle of the left circle for an open opportunity on goal. Long faked junior Allyse Wilcox to the netminder's right and then shot left on the open goal, just beyond Wilcox's out-stretched glove.

Wilcox mad a fantastic save at 6:43 of the first period off a one-timer from senior Sadie Wright-Ward about five feet outside the crease. The goaltender ate up the shot for one of her 10 saves in the first period.

Freshman Courtney Birchard put UNH up 2-0 at 1:17 of the second period, scoring with the power-play advantage. The forward sent a slapshot on goal from the top of the left circle through traffic, finding a niche between Wilcox's glove and the right post.

The Wildcats struck just a few seconds later, at 1:53 of the second, as freshman Jenn Wakefield made her mark, slapping home a one-timer from the left goalpost.

Junior Erin Seman had a great shot on goal at 3:49 of the second period, pushing a shot towards the far post after the Terriers won a faceoff in the right circle in Wildcat territory. However, freshman Kayley Herman, this season's Hockey East ITECH Goaltending Champion, extended her leg in a split to barely deflect the shot.

Senior Leah Craig flicked a shot into goal from the bottom of the right circle at 8:32 to build a four goal lead for UNH.

The Terriers were unable to take advantage of back-to-back New Hampshire penalties, committed within 16 seconds of each other. With almost two minutes on the power play, BU placed only 2 shots on goal as the Wildcats dodged the most serious Terrier threat of the game.

Shortly after returning their skaters, junior Sam Faber upped UNH's lead at 17:38 of the second period and Long added her second goal of the game at 18:13.

Sophomore Sarah Appleton almost put one in goal at 4:07 of the third period, bouncing a shot off the right post after evading the UNH defenders through the zone.

Faber's second goal of the game came directly off the face-off at center ice, blazing past the Terrier defense and slotting a shot past sophomore goaltender Melissa Haber at 7:56 of the third period.

The eight goals allowed were the most the team has ever surrendered, eclipsing a 7-0 loss against Maine on Jan. 28, 2006. The five goals allowed in the second period set a new record for the Terriers. Six of the scores were credited to junior goaltender Allyse Wilcox, tying her career high.