By Chloe Wojtanik
Boston University News Service
Despite an exciting last minute rally by Boston University’s Women’s hockey team, the Terriers fell short of the Beanpot championship title as they lost 2-1 in overtime to the Northeastern University Huskies on Tuesday evening at TD Garden.
In a relatively uneventful first two periods, the main storyline was Northeastern’s penalty kill. The first and second periods both saw two BU power plays, which were ultimately shut down by Northeastern’s top-tier penalty kill – who went a perfect 4-for-4.
The scoreless drought was broken in the final minute of the second period as Northeastern junior Skylar Irving scored with 35.2 seconds left to put the Huskies up 1-0. Northeastern’s star forward would later be named the MVP of the Women’s Beanpot tournament.
As the game entered the final minutes of the third period, things were looking not so promising for BU. In a last ditch effort to even the score, BU pulled their starting goaltender, Callie Shanahan, to give the Terriers an extra skater with three minutes left to play.
This risky coaching decision proved to be smart as BU senior Catherine Foulem tied the game up 1-1 with 58.1 seconds left in the third period. After a cross-ice pass from BU sophomore Sydney Healey, Foulem was able to put the puck through the legs of the Huskies’ goalie Gwyneth Philips for the tournament-extending goal.
With the score locked at one goal a piece, the championship game headed to overtime at The Garden. Despite the momentum being in BU’s favor after the last minute goal to end regulation, Irving’s second goal of the night put Northeastern on top just 27 seconds into overtime.
For the first time in its 45 year history, the Women’s Beanpot Championship was held at TD Garden in downtown Boston, home to the Boston Bruins and Celtics as well as the Men’s Beanpot tournament.
This historic game also marks the first time a women’s hockey championship was held in an NHL arena since it became an NCAA sport in 2000. Many players and coaches noted that, despite the loss, it was still a night to remember as they got the chance to play on a stage as big as TD Garden and showcase their talent.
The Terriers got to the championship by defeating Boston College last Tuesday 4-3 in a shootout at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center during the Beanpot’s semifinals round of play.
BU Women’s hockey will be back on the ice as they take on Holy Cross in a home-and-home battle, which faces off this Friday at Walter Brown Arena, BU Women’s hockey home rink.
