MINNEAPOLIS - The Boston University women's ice hockey team (1-2-0, 1-0-0 HE) dropped a tough 5-2 decision to No. 2 Minnesota (4-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) on Sunday afternoon at Ridder Arena.
After falling behind in the first, BU came back to tie the game 1-1 when junior Lilli Welcke scored the equalizer from the slot. The Gophers tacked on two more goals before the end of the second and added another early in the third to build to a 4-1 lead. Junior Riley Walsh answered with her first goal as a Terrier, but it was not enough to fend off the Gophers who swept the weekend series with a 5-2 win.
Sophomore netminder Mari Pietersen made her second start of the season and recorded 21 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams skated evenly in the first frame until Minnesota was able to rush up the ice and score with 4:05 to go.
- A string of penalties in the second period saw BU on the power play followed by 4-on-4 until another Terrier went to the box for a 5-on-3 situation in Minnesota's favor. The Terriers were able to kill the penalties with no change in score.
- Moments after the penalty kill, senior Maggie Hanzel's shot rebounded and freshman Lola Reid dumped back the puck into the slot for Welcke, who scored the equalizer with 6:55 to go in the second.
- A BU penalty a minute later gave the Gophers a penalty shot opportunity on which they scored.
- Minnesota added another goal for a 3-1 lead at the end of the second.
- The Gophers found the back of the net for their fourth goal just 27 seconds into the final period.
- Walsh then scored BU's second goal off a rebound from her initially saved shot.
- Minnesota responded just over a minute later when it netted its fifth and final goal to top BU 5-2.
GAME NOTES
- Minnesota outshot BU 26-14.
- The Gophers won 28 faceoffs compared to BU's 18.
- The Terriers blocked nine shots compared to Minnesota's six with graduate student Tamara Giaquinto leading with three.
- Neither team scored a power-play goal.
- This game marked Pietersen's fourth career game with 21 or more saves.
- Terriers led in shots on goal through the first.
UP NEXT
- BU returns to the east coast for a home-and-home series against Northeastern.
- The Terriers visit the Huskies Friday (Oct. 11) for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
