Feb. 15, 2008

Think Pink!

BOSTON - The Boston University women's ice hockey team plays a home-and-home series against No. 8 Connecticut on Saturday and Sunday, during Hockey East's annual Skating Strides weekend. The weekend opener will be held at the Huskies' Freitas Ice Forum at 1:00 p.m., with the two teams facing-off again Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Walter Brown Arena.

All Hockey East teams competing this weekend will participate in Skating Strides, an event to benefit the fight against breast cancer. Proceeds from all six conference games this weekend will go towards the cause, including gate admissions, merchandise sales, auctions and other special events. The money raised from the Boston University men's ice hockey team's 50/50 raffle Friday and chuck-a-puck Saturday will also go towards the cause. Advance sale of a $10 ticket/t-shirt package for the women's game Sunday will be on sale at both of the men's games.

With only six games left on the regular season slate, the Terriers (12-13-3, 8-6-1 HE) sit in fourth place in the conference - one point behind Providence and three points ahead of Boston College. Each of BU's remaining games is against a conference foe, with home-and-home series against BC and Northeastern after this weekend.

Connecticut (18-5-5, 9-3-3 HE) is coming off a 5-3 loss at Providence last Sunday. The game was a tight affair, with UConn pulling to within one goal entering the third frame. However, the Friars tacked on an empty-netter with time expiring to build the lead to two and seal victory. It was the first loss for the Huskies since a 2-0 defeat against Harvard on Dec. 7.

The Terriers most recently suffered a loss 3-1, also against No. 1 Harvard, in the Beanpot championship Tuesday. Sophomore Jonnie Bloemers scored BU's lone goal, as junior Allyse Wilcox made 34 saves between the pipes. It was the second consecutive year the Terriers fell in the championship game, after coming out on the losing end of a 6-1 decision against BC last year.

BU and UConn met earlier this season, with the Huskies skating to a 3-2 win at Walter Brown Arena on Jan. 18. After the Connecticut gained a 2-0 lead with scores in the first period and in the opening seconds of the second, the Terriers regained their composure and scored twice in the third frame to tie the game. However, sophomore Dominique Thibault notched the game-winner midway through the final period to secure a win for the Huskies.

Thibault (18-17-35) leads the team in both goals and points, also ranking second in assists behind senior Jaclyn Hawkins (11-19-30). Junior Brittany Wilson has spent the majority of the Huskies' minutes in goal, accumulating a 12-4-4 record with a 2.03 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. She also has five shutouts, including two against Providence and one against Northeastern.