STORRS, Conn. (Jan. 10, 2009) - Brittany Wilson (Nepean, Ont./Ottawa Inter. AA) made 31 saves in the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team's 3-0 win over No. 9 Boston University. Monique Weber (Rogers, Minn./Elk Rivers High) scored twice in the Huskies' Saturday afternoon victory at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.
It was the Huskies' eighth-consecutive win of the season and their fourth-straight over a Hockey East opponent this season. With the win, UConn is now in sole possession of third place in the conference standings. Entering the game BU and UConn were tied with 12 points.
UConn's power play returned to form in the second period as Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont./Montreal Axion NWHL) scored to give the Huskies a 1-0 edge. It was her 19th goal of the season and she was assisted by Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont./Ottawa NCCP Inter. AA) and Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont./Durham Lightning AA.).
Entering the week, UConn led the Hockey East with a 20.6 conversion rate on the power play. Boston University's power play was second to last and the Huskies held the Terriers scoreless in three power-play opportunities in the game. BU (9-7-5, 6-4-0) had just three shots on goal during its power-play chances.
Still in the second period, following a four-on-four opportunity during which Wilson robbed Jenelle Kohanchuk of a goal after shooting straight on the Husky netminder, UConn jumped out a two-goal lead.
Weber beat the BU defense at mid-ice, going in alone on Melissa Haber after taking the puck fed to her by Jody Sydor (St. Alberta, Alta./Sturgeon Composite) into the BU zone. Weber shot it past Haber for the Huskies' 2-0 lead at 10:26. Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont./St. Peter Catholic) also had an assist on the goal.
The Terriers narrowly outshot the Huskies in the second period (11-10) after dominating shots in the first period, 10-4.
Chaisson and Sydor assisted Weber's empty-netter at 17:24 in the third period. BU pulled Haber in favor of the extra skater with plenty of time on the clock and control of the puck. UConn's defense broke up BU in the neutral zone and Sydor fed the puck to Weber. The freshman forward then skated past the Terrier defense to score her second of the game for the 3-0 final.
The Huskies came out to a sluggish start in the game, responding slowly to Boston University's consistent offensive pressure. UConn was unable to find its stride with an early power-play opportunity, the lone penalty of the first period. The game remained scoreless after twenty minutes of play despite the Terriers 10 shots on goal.
Opposite Wilson (10-3-1), Haber made 16 saves in just her second loss of the season. The UConn goalie helped keep the Terriers scoreless in their last 66:31 minutes played with 31 saves.
Women's ice hockey hosts Mercyhurst for a pair of games next weekend. On Friday, the Huskies face off against the Lakers at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game is set to begin at 4 p.m.
Game Notes
- Today's win marks the 275th career victory for head coach Heather Linstad and her 115th win behind the UConn bench.
- UConn has won the last four meetings with Boston University and have allowed the Terriers to win just one game at Freitas.
- This is the third-straight game that the Huskies have denied their opponent a power-play goal.
- During this eight-game winning streak, UConn has outscored the opposition 30-10.
- Brittany Wilson recorded the fourth UConn shutout of the season and her third of the the 2008-09 season.