By Jared Sugerman, News Staff
The Northeastern women’s hockey team might be hoping that what didn’t make it to this weekend’s playoff preview will be left on the cutting room floor.
The Boston University Terriers (17-10-7, 14-6-1 Hockey East) outscored the Huskies (12-19-3, 7-13-1 HE) 11-1 during the final two games of the regular season, clinching the third seed in the Hockey East Tournament and guaranteeing a first-round playoff match-up with sixth-seeded Northeastern. That quarterfinal game will be played at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at Walter Brown Arena.
‘I’m discouraged with our effort, but we’re right back here again next week so we have a chance to redeem ourselves,’ said head coach Dave Flint after Sunday’s 8-1 road loss.
Saturday, Northeastern freshman goaltender Florence Schelling allowed one goal during the first period, and she was able to keep the Terriers close by stopping all 11 shots that came her way during the middle frame. Schelling finished the game with 38 saves, but Boston University’s Allyse Wilcox turned aside all 20 shots the Huskies could muster, and the Terriers skated away with a 3-0 victory on senior day at Matthews Arena.
With just over one minute gone by in the third period, Northeastern junior forward Lindsay Berman managed’ to flip a shot from around the hashmarks past Wilcox, but it clanged off the post before crossing the goal line. Boston University extended its lead at 10:03 of the final session, before adding an empty-net goal at 19:19.
Six graduating Huskies were honored with banners bearing their name in graffiti, as well as a variety of phrases and pictures intductive of each of their characters. Prior to the game, forwards Ali Bielawski, Missy Elumba, Erin Reil and co-captain Colleen Sanborn, defender Brenna Frost and goalie Stacey Scott, all stepped onto a red carpet unrolled from the bench toward center ice, where they posed for pictures while holding the bouquets of flowers presented to each of them by junior co-captain Katy Applin and’ junior assistant captain Annie Hogan. ‘There’s this rush of memories that comes, and it’s hard to stay focused on the game,’ Elumba said. ‘I think that happens. It’s surreal.’ Her banner featured a large portrait of Jesus holding an electric guitar.
Boston University’s seniors played their final regular season home game Sunday, as they attempted to affirm their position above Connecticut in the Hockey East standings. They did so in convincing fashion, outshooting Northeastern 42-17, while New Hampshire’ defeated Connecticut, 4-2.
‘I think they were a little bit in shock how quick and hard BU came out. I’ll give them credit,’ Flint said.’ ‘They played their butts off and they outworked us all over the ice.’
Forward Jillian Kirchner scored the Terriers’ first goal at 3:48 of the first period, and Gina Kearns added a short-handed tally 3:57 later. Berman drew the Huskies back to within one goal by scoring a power play goal at 11:44, but two goals in the final 46 seconds of the opening frame left the Huskies trailing, 4-1, after 20 minutes of play.
Sophomore goalie Leah Sulyma started Sunday’s game, but was pulled in favor of Schelling, after stopping 15 of 19 shots during the first period.
Schelling made 19 saves Sunday, finishing her first collegiate regular season with 546 saves, a 2.26 goals against average and a .932 saves percentage in 1063:58 played. Sulyma compiled 429 saves, a 2.24 goals against average and a .921 saves percentage while playing 989:27 between the pipes. Sophomore forward Kristi Kehoe was Northeastern’s leading scorer in the regular season, registering 16 goals and eight assists for a total of 24 points.
