BOSTON - Sophomore Lauren Cherewyk scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lift the Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win over No. 4 New Hampshire on Thursday night at Walter Brown Arena. The win marks the highest-ranked opponent BU has ever beaten. The Terriers, ranked tenth in this week's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, improve to 4-2-1 overall after their Hockey East opener.
BU had been 0-10-0 all-time against the Wildcats prior to the contest and handed New Hampshire its first loss of the season and first Hockey East loss since Nov. 2, 2006, as the Wildcats fell to 4-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in league play.
With the score deadlocked at 2-2 in the middle of the third period, Cherewyk struck with her second goal of the game to provide the Terriers with the margin of victory. With BU applying heavy pressure in front of the net, freshman Jenelle Kohanchuk took a shot that was saved, but Cherewyk's follow-up effort was good for her first career multiple-goal game.
"It was getting a little crazy in the offensive zone," Cherewyk said of her game-winner. "Jenelle (Kohanchuk), (Erin) Seman and I got to the net, I just saw it coming up from the slot and I just put it away."
The Terriers jumped out to an early lead, getting on the scoreboard less than two minutes in when freshmen Tara Watchorn and Kasey Boucher connected for their first collegiate points. Boucher set up Watchorn for a shot from above the right circle that deflected off a New Hampshire defenseman and eluded the grasp of Wildcat goalie Kayley Herman, who made 24 saves in the contest.
BU went on a two-man advantage for 1:32 midway through the first period and was unable to score during the five-on-three play, but got a goal from Cherewyk before the power play expired. Sophomore Jillian Kirchner made a pass to junior Melissa Anderson, whose shot from the left side was saved, but Cherewyk knocked in the rebound to give the Terriers a two-goal cushion.
After being outshot 9-5 in the opening frame, UNH turned the game around in the second, holding a 12-5 advantage in shots and evening the score. Midway through the period, senior Angela Taylor passed from behind the net to sophomore Jenn Wakefield right in front. Wakefield flipped up a shot that was gloved by BU netminder Allyse Wilcox, but Wilcox was too far back in her own net and the puck was across the line for Wakefield's seventh goal of the season.
On a power play late in the frame, the Wildcats got an equalizer. Sophomore Courtney Birchard began the play with a pass from the blue line to senior Maggie Joyce in the left corner. Joyce sent the puck across the ice to junior Micaela Long, who was camped in front of the net and deflected the puck into the cage.
A pair of penalties against BU gave New Hampshire a two-man advantage for 1:14 late in the third, but the Terrier defense held strong, with Wilcox making two of her 27 saves of the game.
BU wraps up its six-game homestand on Saturday (Oct. 25) with a game in Agganis Arena, hosting Maine at 2 p.m. as part of Reunion & Alumni Weekend. Live streaming video is available for all home games this season through BU All-Access on GoTerriers.com.