Feb. 12, 2008

BOSTON - The Boston University women's ice hockey team looks to clinch its first Beanpot title since 1981 Tuesday night, as they take on No. 1 Harvard in the tournament championship at 8:00 p.m. at Walter Brown Arena. It will be the second consecutive year the Terriers play in the Beanpot championship.

The Terriers (12-12-3, 8-6-1 HE) are riding a four game winning streak into the game, after earning a 3-1 win against Boston College in the opening round of the Beanpot last Tuesday and then seizing two wins against Vermont over the weekend.

Harvard (22-1-0, 18-0-0 ECAC), however, is on a scalding 11 game winning streak, currently good for second best in the nation. The last loss the Crimson suffered was a 4-1 setback on Dec. 14 at New Hampshire.

Last week, in the opening game of the tournament, Harvard skated to a 3-1 victory over Northeastern, scoring three unanswered goals to advance to the championship. Junior Jenny Brine scored for the Crimson in the first and second periods, while junior Sarah Vaillancourt closed the afternoon with a goal late in the third period. Sophomore Christina Kessler only had to make 18 saves to hold the Huskies at bay, as Harvard consistently kept pressure on Northeastern.

In the night cap, the Terriers earned a 3-1 win over cross-town rival Boston College, marking the second time this season BU has defeated the Eagles. Junior co-captain Gina Kearns's goal midway through the first period staked the Terriers to a one-goal lead that lasted two frames, but Eagle junior Meghan Fardelmann evened the score early in the third. Sophomore Jonnie Bloemers notched her second game-winning goal of the season against BC off a no-look pass from senior Julie Poulin at 8:18 of the third period. Poulin then added an insurance goal less than a minute later to seal victory for BU.

Preceding the championship game, Northeastern and Boston College will face-off in the consolation match, starting at 5:00 p.m.