By Jared Sugerman

The women’s hockey team managed to cut a three-goal third period deficit to one Friday night, but eventually fell to No. 10 Boston College, 4-2.

Senior forward and captain Nikki Petrich nearly leveled the score with about five minutes remaining in regulation at Conte Forum. With possession of the puck and a two-on-one rush developing, Petrich skated through the left side of the BC defensive zone, then fired. Her shot got by BC goaltender Molly Schaus, but continued to sail past the net.

Then, with 4:43 left to play, the Eagles’ Meghan Fardelmann scored her fifth goal of the season to make the score 4-2 in BC’s favor.

The Eagles began the third period with a three goal edge, but the Huskies had begun to turn the tide in the second, forcing a late penalty that carried into the final frame. Northeastern took advantage of the opportunity to get on the board, as sophomore defensemen Lindsay Berman and Katy Applin both recorded their seventh assists of the season on freshman forward Kristi Kehoe’s sixth goal of the year.

The Huskies continued to work hard, and it paid dividends again at the 5:43 mark, when junior forward Cassie Sperry scored her first goal of the season to bring NU back to within a goal.

Though the Huskies were unable to complete the comeback, their play late in the game impressed head coach Laura Schuler by flashing their potential.

“I think that we were honestly at [BC’s] level in the second and third period,” Schuler said. “That was the best I’ve seen [us] play.”

However, Schuler knows that to beat teams like the Eagles, the Huskies will need to work hard throughout entire games.

“[BC] has a lot of energy, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons why they are as good as they are,” Schuler said. “That’s something that we probably need to get better at.”

Freshman goaltender Leah Sulyma got off to a strong start against BC. Sulyma was tested early and often, facing 13 shots in the first period and 30 throughout the game. Sulyma was benched between the second and third periods of last Saturday’s 6-2 loss against Wayne State, and was not in net in Sunday’s 7-2 loss to Wayne State. After a week of practice and conversations with assistant coach and former Olympic goalie Chanda Gunn, Sulyma was given the starting nod for Friday’s game.

Northeastern, now 1-9-1 overall (1-2 Hockey East), faces Quinnipiac Tuesday. The game will be played at Matthews Arena at 7 p.m.