By Gayle Simone
A week after dropping two points in the Hockey East standings, the Northeastern women’s hockey team earned four points back as they defeated Boston College in the home-and-home series last week. The Eagles took the lead in both games, but the Huskies rallied back to secure the 2-1 victories.
Freshman Amy Goodney scored a pair of third period goals during Sunday’s tilt to lift the Huskies to the season sweep of the Eagles.
Trailing 1-0 entering the third, Goodney stuffed a rebound past BC goalie Lisa Davis five minutes into the period for her ninth goal of the season.
Goodney then potted the winner with 11:06 remaining in the game after collecting a pass from linemate Cyndy Kenyon.
After the teams skated in a scoreless first period, the Eagles got on the board first when Kerri Sanders knocked in the rebound of Michelle Lombard’s shot at 11:57 for her second goal of the weekend.
Both Davis and NU net minder Chanda Gunn made 23 saves in the game.
In Saturday’s contest, freshman Ashly Waggoner earned her first collegiate goal on an unassisted game-winner at 9:06 in the second period.
Waggoner, standing strong at the blue line, intercepted BC’s attempt to clear the puck out of the zone and fired a shot past Davis, which may have benefited from a deflection.
“After the face off the puck just popped out,” Waggoner said. “I saw the open lane and shot it. I was surprised because I didn’t know that I scored. I thought someone else tipped it.”
Sanders gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead just eight minutes into the game when she lifted a rebound over Gunn’s shoulder. Lombardi took the initial shot and Sarah Courtney earned the other assist.
The Huskies responded with a late first-period power play goal from defenseman Theresa Ella.
Crystal Rochon cycled the puck behind the net before sending a pass to Rebecca Peters at the right point. Peters then slid the puck to Ella in the slot, who ripped a slap shot past Davis (35 saves) with 1:33 remaining in the first.
“I used the Eagle player as a screen and took the shot as their goalie was moving over,” Ella said. “She was screened too, so I don’t think she had a chance on it because she saw the puck too late.”
The Eagles tried to rally back by pulling Davis in the final minute of the game, but Gunn (28 saves) stifled BC on six close range shots.
“We have a word of the week and this week’s word was simply, ‘hockey,'” coach Joy Woog said. “We needed to stop thinking of what we were supposed to be doing and just play a good game of hockey. That’s what we did today.”
The Huskies killed off all five of the Eagles’ man-advantages during the weekend match up and converted on one of seven power plays.
The Huskies face all Hockey East opponents in their remaining seven games and are in the midst of their playoff push.
“We need these points if we want to be in the playoffs at the end of the year in our building,” Woog said. “These kids want to be in the tournament. They are determined to win these games.”
NU will host Maine this weekend at Matthews Arena. Friday night’s game starts at 7 p.m., while the puck will be dropped at 3 p.m. for Saturday’s game.
In the first two games this season against the Black Bears, NU earned a single point out of a possible four. The Huskies earned the tie in the first match-up on Dec. 6 before dropping a 2-1 loss the next day.
