By Gayle Simone

The Lady Huskies returned to the ice last weekend in a home-and-home series with cross-town Hockey East rival Boston College, looking to end an eight-game losing skid dating back to Nov. 19. Unfortunately, NU lost their ninth straight game before putting one in the win column Sunday with a 3-1 victory over the Eagles.

Sophomore Ashley Bielawski put NU on the scoreboard first with a power play goal at 4:27 of the first period. Missy Elumba and Lori DiGiacomo assisted on the play.

Sarah Carlson answered for the Eagles just four minutes later and sent the two teams to their locker rooms knotted at one after the first period of play.

NU thought it broke the tie late in the second when the puck got past Eagle net minder Alison Quandt. The celebration was short-lived when referee Wayne Silva called the goal back, stating the puck was put in the net via a high stick.

The teams entered the final frame still tied 1-1.

Skating on a two-man advantage, the Huskies were again robbed of a goal by Silva, who said the net came off its bearing before the puck crossed the goal line.

Not to be denied, NU made sure the next two goals could not be called back.

On the power play, the Huskies were poised and patient, sending crisp passes across the ice and waiting for a shot.

DiGiacomo skated in from the blue line, took a pass from Amy Goodney and netted the puck above Quandt’s shoulder to put NU up 2-1. Crystal Rochon also assisted on the goal.

NU coach Laura Schuler said she didn’t want the team to be discouraged despite the two non-goals.

“We played off the goals that they disallowed,” Schuler said. “I told the girls to make sure they used that energy and keep shooting at the net and we were able to capitalize on the man advantage.”

Bielawski scored her second of the game a minute later to secure the 3-1 win.

Schuler said the team practiced for two weeks on the power play and it paid off since the Huskies were 2-of-5 on the man advantage and did not allow a goal on BC’s eight opportunities.

“We spent about 80 percent of our practices on power plays,” Schuler said. “There are so many penalties out there and power play opportunities and it paid off for us.”

NU goaltender Marisa Hourihan turned away 35 shots, while Quandt made 24 for the Eagles.

“That felt good,” Schuler said. “They played solid for 60 whole minutes. They played for the full three periods.”

Saturday’s match-up put NU on the losing end of a 4-3 game.

Down 3-1 in the third, NU tied it up with goals from Bielawski and Marie Desrosiers only to have BC pull out the win with a minute-and- a-half left in regulation.

Hourihan made 21 saves in the game and Quandt had 14 for the Eagles.

The Huskies face Hockey East opponent Providence College in a home-and-home series Saturday and Sunday, with the latter at Matthews Arena at 2 p.m.