By Matt Foster
CHESTNUT HILL – Women’s hockey coach Laura Schuler has certainly experienced poor luck guiding her Huskies this season. Heading into Tuesday night’s game against Hockey East rival Boston College at Kelley Rink, her team had lost five straight, four of those by one goal.
Unfortunately for Schuler, the Eagles were able to keep her team’s streak going.
The Huskies fell, 2-1, last night, dropping their record to 4-17-1 overall, 3-10-1 HE. Freshman forward Ali Bielawski scored the lone goal for the Huskies, a low shot that slipped through under the right leg of BC senior goalie Alison Quandt at 10:20 into the third.
The Needham native earned a star for the game and gave a glimpse into a future that Schuler said she hopes includes more wins.
“Ali’s been playing better and better,” Schuler said. “The team is getting better every time they play. They just have to start believing in doing the little things. If they just keep believing, they’ll start winning.”
The Eagles struck first blood, scoring at 1:21 into the second period with a goal by sophomore forward Deb Spillane off an assist from sophomore defender Cristin Stuart. It appeared as if the Huskies had tied it 4:03 into the frame when sophomore forward Nikki Petrich outran the Eagle defense, only to have her shot taken back when Quandt fell into the net and it was unsure whether the puck was uncovered.
“Unlucky scores,” Shuler said. “It was questionable in the second with Nikki, and last time we were here we got a goal called back.”
The Huskies’ play continued to push the puck up and down the ice, only to be continually stuffed by a team that is second in the league in goals allowed. The Petrich call would become even more of a factor when BC sophomore defender Erin Blood added to the lead at 8:04 of the second off assists from Spillane and sophomore defender Sarah Feldman.
It looked as if the momentum was finally on the Husky side after Bielawski’s goal in the third period, however the unlucky dogs were soon put to bed when an icing call was not given in the closing minutes of the game, a call Schuler said was “clearly missed.”
It is worth noting that, while the losses continue to pile up, this Husky team has impressed their first-year coach.
“I was really impressed overall. We were very close in shots against the top team in our conference,” she said. “If we play that way, wins will come, it just takes time.”
The past few weeks have been especially hard for this group, having to watch knee injuries to co-captains Amy Goodney and Marisa Hourihan on Dec. 7 against Yale. And while Hourihan was able to return to the ice, the team continues to suffer from the loss.
“She’s such a great leader, she’s a naturally energetic person. It was tough losing her,” Schuler said.
Bielawski reiterated her coaches sentiments about her now-injured captain.
“She definitely anchored the line together and was a huge asset,” she said. “Now we need to just work harder.”
The Huskies dropped their other game last week, 3-1, to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday, Jan. 13 at Matthews Arena. Junior forward Crystal Rochon scored the lone goal for the Huskies, while Hourihan made 19 saves in the loss.
RPI goalie Ashley Mayr stole the show, making 28 saves, despite the Huskies putting up a season-high 29 shots on goal. The Engineers had the lead early on, with Melissa Boik scoring at 3:08 into the first on a power play. They would add to their lead at 12:56 of the second on Julie Welt’s fifth goal of the season. The Huskies remained shut-out until Rochon scored at 17:44 of the final period off an assist from sophomore forward Nikki Petrich. RPI added its third goal with 11 seconds left in the game on Sarah Daniel’s empty net goal.
The Huskies play again Saturday, Jan. 21 on the road against Providence at Schneider Arena. The Friars sit third in Hockey East play at 6-2-1, 12-7-3 overall.
