BOSTON - For the 19th time in program history, the No. 14 Northeastern Huskies (16-9-1, 9-7-1 HE) are Women's Beanpot champions, as they defeated the Boston University Terriers (11-11-3, 9-8-1 HE) by a score of 2-1 in overtime at the TD Garden on Tuesday evening.
It was a historic night that saw the first Women's Beanpot Championship played at the TD Garden, where a total attendance of 10,633 packed the arena. It was the most attended Northeastern women's hockey game in program history, and the largest women's hockey crowd in Boston history.
- A scoreless first period saw two penalties killed for the Huskies, out-shooting BU 8-7 in the opening frame.
- The Huskies faced two more BU power plays in the second but would finish the second period a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
- With just 35.2 seconds left in the second period it was Skylar Irving who finally broke the scoreless draw after Abbey Marohn kept the puck in the offensive zone. She passed into the faceoff circle to Irving, who then charged the net and fired a shot over the shoulders of the BU net minder for the 1-0 lead.
- The Terriers tied the game up with 58.1 seconds remaining in regulation with their goaltender pulled, sending the game to overtime.
- The hero of the night, Skylar Irving, wasted no time in the extra frame, scoring just 27 seconds in. A perfect pass from Katy Knoll found a streaking Irving all alone behind the defense as she charged the net.
- The goals were Irving's first two of her Beanpot career - she now has three points in her Beanpot career. Irving was named the tournament MVP for her two goals in the final
- Netminder Gwyneth Phillips stopped 23 of the 24 shots she faced in the final, after a shut out in the opening round, to earn her second straight Joe Bertagna Award for the best goaltender in the tournament. She's the first Husky to repeat the award since Erika Silva in 2000 and 2001.
- Northeastern improves to 19-11-1 all-time in the championship round of the Women's Beanpot, with a 19-5-4 record against Boston University in the tournament.
The Huskies return to conference play this Friday and Saturday, January 26 and 27 with a home-and-home series with Merrimack. Northeastern will visit North Andover Friday night at 6 p.m. before hosting the Warriors Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Matthews Arena.
