By Eric Getzoff
BU News Service
Boston University women’s ice hockey senior forward Samantha Sutherland continued her hot start to the season in the Terriers’ Friday night 5-1 win over the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, improving their record to 2-0. It’s the first 2-0 start for the Terriers since the 2012-2013 season.
Sutherland, who had a hat trick in the Terriers’ season opener, added two more goals in the victory to give her five goals on the season. She had six in 26 games last season.
“I’m pretty happy with [the early success],” Sutherland said. “I hope it keeps going. I know my linemates are pretty excited about it.”
Sutherland, who hails from Ontario, Canada, credits her hot start to her senior standing and the responsibilities that come with it.
“I think just being in a senior position where I’m not too worried about what other people are doing,” she said. “I’m just worried about myself, and I’m worried about what I can do for the team.”
Last season, she scored on six of her 47 shots, good for only a .128 shooting percentage. There were many times when Sutherland had great looks, but the shots weren’t connecting. This year, head coach Brian Durocher says she’s getting her payback.
“Last year, she really had one of those years where she was snake-bit, the goalies were making great saves, she was hitting the cross bar and it was bouncing up instead of maybe bouncing into the net,” Durocher said. “This year maybe she is getting repaid for them and getting some good bounces. It’s always nice when your momentum and confidence start to build, and getting pucks to go in is a great way to have that happen.”
Both of Sutherland’s goals came in the third period, the first of which came on a power play. It did take a little bit to get going for Sutherland, however, as the game was delayed for 90 minutes because New Hampshire’s bus broke down right off campus.
How did Sutherland maintain focus during the delay? By grabbing food with her teammates at the dining hall.
“We sat down, adjusted and we all talked about what we needed to work on,” Sutherland said. “[We said] we have the upper hand in this – you know, we’re not sitting on a bus somewhere broken down. We have to use that to our advantage.”
And the Terriers certainly did.
This was the first game for the Terriers since September 25. It’s the longest span in between games for BU – not counting the December holiday break – since the 2008-2009 season. BU has now won 12 straight games against UNH and has not lost to the Wildcats at Walter Brown Arena since Feb. 3, 2011.
Next up for the Terriers is a showdown with the University Of Vermont Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
