UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman Julia Nearis notched a career-high two goals and sophomore Kaleigh Donnelly recorded her third straight multi-point game to lead the No. 10 Boston University women's ice hockey team to a 4-1 victory at Penn State on Saturday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
BU (5-1-1) never trailed en route to its fourth straight win as the Terriers tallied two first-period goals. Penn State (3-4-3) got to within one in the second stanza, but the Terriers tallied the final three goals of the game to complete the weekend sweep.
Sophomore Courtney Correia collected two assists, including the primary helper on senior Deziray De Sousa's game-winning strike. Senior Abby Cook extended her point streak to five games with a goal and an assist while redshirt senior Sammy Davis dished out two assists. Redshirt senior Abbey Stanley, junior Nara Elia and sophomore Alex Allan also recorded one assist apiece.
Sophomore Kate Stuart was sharp in the Terrier net, making 21 saves to earn her first win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU took advantage of its first power play of the game to open the scoring 3:22 into the contest. As Elia worked the puck down low to Donnelly, Nearis read the play and skated from between the circles to the crease before receiving a pass from Donnelly and scoring her second goal of the season.
- De Sousa made it 2-0 at 12:46 of the first frame. Just as a Terrier power play came to a close, Stanley knocked down a clearing attempt to keep the play alive. She then dished the puck to Correia at the right half-wall. De Sousa deftly redirected Correia's shot past Cam Leonard (18 saves) for her second goal of the season.
- Penn State cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 3:23 juncture of the second stanza.
- Nearis answered with her second power-play strike of the contest. Her shot towards the cage caromed off a Nittany Lion skate and past Leonard.
- Donnelly extended the Terriers' lead to 4-1 just 1:58 into the third period when she redirected Allan's shot from the left point.
- Cook closed the scoring with a power-play strike at 12:38 of the third period. Her wrist shot stayed low to the ice and got through a sea of bodies before hitting the back of the net.
GAME NOTES
- Donnelly has notched a goal and an assist in each of the last three games.
- Cook has collected six points (3g, 3a) during her five-game point streak.
- Both of De Sousa's goals this season have been game-winners.
- This was the first multi-point game of Nearis' collegiate career.
- BU was 3-for-6 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
- The Terriers are 5-0-1 when they hold opponents to two goals or fewer.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers will return home for the first time since Oct. 11 when they host No. 3 Northeastern at Walter Brown Arena on Friday, Nov. 1.
- Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
