St. Paul, Minn. - The Boston University women's ice hockey team played to a hard-luck 4-2 loss against seventh-ranked Minnesota Saturday night in St. Paul, Minn at the Nike Bauer Women's Classic. After earning a 2-1 lead after two periods, the Terriers allowed three goals in the third period to give the Golden Gophers the win and the tournament title. Boston University put up a tough fight, battling off a strong Minnesota offensive for much of the game.
Sophomore Melissa Haber had a great game in goal, fending off 38 shots from a Minnesota team that boasts several top national players. The defense began the game with a strong stand, as the Terriers killed the penalty after they got called for two penalties in the first 2:19 of play. Boston University got on the board first with freshman Jillian Kirchner's first career goal with 15:05 left in the first period. The Gophers and Terriers exchanged goals until deep into the third period, when Minnesota put two on the board that BU could not answer.
Kirchner's goal came right after the Terriers returned to even strength in the first period. After BU wrestled the puck away from the defense freshman Lauren Cherewyk forwarded the puck to freshman Holly Lorms, who directed it to Kirchner on the left side of goal. Kirchner chipped the puck in to give the Terriers the lead.
The Gophers struck back with 8:43 left in the period, when Emily West scored a quick shot off an assist from Gigi Marvin and Kelli Blankenship. Haber and the defense played a strong role in stopping a forceful Gopher attack that placed some impressive shots on goal.
Freshman Holly Lorms put the Terriers ahead again with her first career goal with 9:33 left in the second period. Junior Laurel Koller recovered a Minnesota save and sent it across the ice, where it was deflected by senior Julie Poulin right to Lorms, who chipped it in over the netminder's stick to give BU the 2-1 advantage.
However, three Minnesota goals in the third period were too much for the Terriers to handle. 48 seconds into the period, Anya Miller knotted the game at 2-2 with an unassisted goal. Erica McKenzie put the Gophers, sweeping through the BU defenders and straight up the middle to net the puck over Haber's outstretched glove with 9:07 left in the period. It was McKenzie's fourth goal, after scoring a hat trick in last night's game against Northeastern - Minnesota's first game of the season. Jen Schoullis ended the evening's scoring, putting a shot past Haber with 1:45 left in the game.
Although the Terriers were out-shot 42-22, the team's defense kept the game close and gave BU a fighting chance.
Next weekend, the Terriers travel to Erie, Pa. to play #2 Mercyhurst on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.