SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Sophomore Rebecca Russo scored two goals, including the overtime winner, to help lift the No. 7 Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win at Union on Saturday afternoon at Messa Rink.
BU (1-0-1) salvaged the full result thanks to senior captain Louise Warren's goal with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. With senior goaltender Kerrin Sperry (27 saves) pulled in favor of an extra attacker, the Terriers hemmed Union in its own zone. Freshman Samantha Sutherland got the puck to senior Kaleigh Fratkin at the top of the zone, from where she fired a shot that Union goaltender Shenae Lundberg (45 saves) stopped. The rebound landed on Warren's tape and she buried it at the right post to force the extra period. Sutherland's assist is her first collegiate point.
Russo's game-winner came right off of an offensive-zone draw. Sophomore Jordan Juron won the faceoff right to Russo, whose shot trickled through Lundberg's pads and into the back of the net to earn the Terriers' first victory of the season. Russo now has three goals and an assist in her first two games of the year.
Juron and Russo combined for the first goal of the game at the 10:59 mark of the opening frame when Russo lifted a shot past Lundberg from the slot. The duo has combined to produce four of the Terriers' five goals this season.
The Dutchwomen tied the game at the 17:54 mark of the first period when Christine Valente knocked in a loose puck at the doorstep. The game remained tied through the end of the second stanza, though BU outshot Union, 13-4, in that period.
The Terriers nearly regained the lead in the third period when Russo hit the crossbar and the puck stayed out of the net. The play went to review, but the call was upheld and the game remained deadlocked until Rebecca Babiak capitalized on a rebound between the circles at the 7:01 mark of the frame.
Sperry was sharp when it counted, making 11 saves in both the first and the third period. She came up with an important glove save with last than four minutes remaining in regulation to keep the Terriers within a goal.
For the second straight game, BU held its opponent 0-for-5 on the power play. The Terriers have also scored a power play goal in each game, both times coming off the stick of Russo.
BU will continue its four-game road trip at Robert Morris next weekend. Friday's contest is slated for 7 p.m. before a 2 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon.