BOSTON - Junior co-captain Marie-Philip Poulin's game-winning goal with 1:30 remaining in regulation lifted the No. 3 Boston University women's ice hockey team over Vermont, 2-1, for its 150th win in program history on Saturday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena. Head coach Brian Durocher also earned his 150th career win in his eighth season behind the BU bench.
Poulin scored both BU (19-5-3, 14-2-1 WHEA) goals as the Terriers snapped a two-game losing streak. They now have a 9-0-2 record against Vermont (8-18-3, 6-9-3 WHEA) at Walter Brown Arena. Senior Alissa Fromkin was sharp between the pipes for the Terriers, as she stopped 25 shots to earn her fourth win of the season.
The game appeared destined for overtime when Poulin's heroics salvaged both points for the Terriers. The play began as junior Kaleigh Fratkin grabbed the puck in her own zone and passed it to senior Kathryn Miller. Miller then found Poulin at center ice, who split two defenders and skated into the Vermont zone. Going 1-on-1 against a defender, Poulin got around the Catamount skater and lifted a backhander past Kelci Lanthier (42 saves) for her 14th goal of the season.
Vermont led early, as the Catamounts scored just 2:08 into the proceedings. Amanda Pelkey forced a turnover deep in the BU zone and charged hard to the net before slipping the puck past Fromkin for her seventh goal of the season.
Despite a slow start to the period, BU bounced back and doubled the Catamounts' shot total, 22-11, in the first frame. The Terriers did well to put bodies in front of Vermont Lanthier and nearly tipped in some shots from the point, but the score remained 1-0 entering the second stanza.
Sophomore Kayla Tutino almost tied the game with a shorthanded strike early in the frame when her tip chance from the stick of senior co-captain Jill Cardella was stopped by Lanthier. The Terriers held Vermont to just two power play shots through the first two periods.
The Terriers' strong transition game finally paid dividends at the 7:48 mark of the second period. Cardella collected the puck in her own zone and dished it to senior Jenelle Kohanchuk, who rushed up the right wing and eventually fired a shot on net from the right circle that Lanthier steered aside. However, Poulin trailed the play and quickly fired home the rebound from below the left circle.
The game-winner nearly came early in the third period as the Terriers killed off a penalty. Kohanchuk forced a turnover along the right half-wall in the Catamount zone and passed it to Poulin, who was alone in the slot. Her shot sailed just wide, however, and the game remained deadlocked.
Junior Louise Warren was robbed with about 12 minutes to play in the final frame when she was robbed by Lanthier, who went post-to-post to deny Warren. Senior Isabel Menard's great feed across the crease helped set up that play.
BU has a knack of making history against Vermont, as Durocher and the Terriers also earned the program's 100th victory against the Catamounts. That win came at Vermont on Jan. 22, 2011. Poulin had a hat trick in that contest and also scored the game-winning goal.
The two teams will conclude the regular-season series on Sunday at Walter Brown Arena. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the first 200 fans will receive a free hat.