Box ScoreHighlights
BOSTON, Mass. - Junior Riley Walsh scored just 3:59 into overtime to lift the No. 14/13 and second-seeded Boston University women's ice hockey team to a thrilling 4-3 victory over eighth-seeded Vermont in a Hockey East quarterfinal contest on Saturday at Walter Brown Arena.
BU erased three one-goal deficits during the contest, with junior Sydney Healey scoring midway through the third period to force overtime. In addition to her overtime heroics, Walsh had the primary assist on both of the Terriers' first-period goals to finish with three points. Juniors Lilli Welcke and Maeve Kelly each had one goal and one assist while classmate Luisa Welcke dished out two assists. Senior Maggie Hanzel and sophomore Alex Law had one assist apiece.
The Terriers outshot the Catamounts, 48-16, during the contest and generated the only eight shots on net during overtime.
BU will play in the semifinals on Wednesday against third-seeded Boston College at Walter Brown Arena at 6 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Vermont opened the scoring 6:12 into the game to take a 1-0 lead.
- The Terriers responded just over two minutes later when passes from Lu. Welcke and Walsh found Kelly at the far circle, who sent the puck into the net at the far post.
- The Catamounts took back the lead 53 seconds later with their second goal of the day.
- BU evened the score at 2-2 with just 32 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Lu. Welcke passed the puck to Walsh, whose shot was deflected into the net by Li. Welcke.
- The Terriers took the game's first penalty at 11:50 of the second period but successfully killed it off as the teams played to a scoreless middle stanza.
- BU went back to the box at 3:29 of the third and UVM capitalized just over a minute into the ensuing power play to grab a 3-2 lead.
- The Terriers pushed for an equalizer and were rewarded at the 9:59 mark. Lu. Welcke dished the puck back to Kelly at the top of the UVM zone. Healey was parked in front of the net and redirected Kelly's one-timer past Sydney Correa (44 saves).
- Vermont went to the box for tripping at 17:19 but the Terriers did not score on their lone power-play chance of the contest.
- BU dominated the overtime period and won the game thanks to a well-executed faceoff play in the UVM zone. Law won the puck back to Hanzel at the left point and the senior defender fired a low shot on goal that was blocked by a UVM defender. Walsh was there for the rebound, however, and she quickly gathered the loose puck and shot it over Correa's glove and into the top right corner.
GAME NOTES
- Saturday was Walsh's first multi-point game as a Terrier.
- This was the Terriers' first Hockey East Tournament win since completing a two-game quarterfinal sweep of New Hampshire in 2019.
- The Terriers' previous overtime win in Hockey East Tournament play was a double-overtime victory over Providence in the 2012 title game.
- In fact, both of the Terriers' overtime wins in the league playoffs have been in championship games, as current BU head coach Tara Watchorn scored in overtime to clinch the program's first Hockey East title in 2010.
UP NEXT:
- BU will host a Hockey East semifinal contest against third-seeded Boston College on Wednesday, March 5, at Walter Brown Arena.
- Game time is set for 6 p.m..
