by Joe Barbito
BOSTON, MA – Northeastern secured a 4-1 victory over long-time rival #10 Boston College at Historic Matthews Arena.
Three of the Huskies four goals came in the first period including an unassisted tally from freshman forward Chloe Aurard and a beautiful tap-in from junior forward Andrea Renner. Sophomore goaltender Aerin Frankel made 29 saves, and Northeastern improved to 13-1-2 in Hockey East play.
Scoring opened up at 3:21 of the first period, when sophomore forward Veronika Pettey was able to connect with senior forward Tori Sullivan for her third goal of the season. Sullivan, the former Eagle, did not have a shot on goal the rest of the game, but made her only one count.
Aurard scored her 10th of the season, an unassisted tally, at 14:26 of the first period. The point was Aurard’s 24th of the year.
The biggest highlight real goal of the game came at 15:18 of the first period. Junior forward Matti Hartman tore up the right wing, and with a backchecker barreling down on her, found Renner streaking towards the net on the far side of the ice. Hartman was able to perfectly plant the pass on Renner’s stick, and Renner, who slid into the boards unharmed after the play ended, gave the Huskies their biggest lead of the game.
BC would get one back at 4:22 of the second period, when sophomore forward Daryl Watts netted the lone Eagles goal of the game. Senior defender Megan Keller earned the secondary assist on the goal for her 15th of the year.
Mid-way through the second period, Aurard suffered an upper body injury on an awkward collision inside the Northeastern blue line. She laid flat on the ice with the trainer attending her before skating off the ice with help from her teammates. She did not return to the game and is currently day-to-day.
No one would find the back of the net again until the end of the third period. Down two goals, BC head coach Katie Crowley pulled freshman goaltender Maddy McArthur for an extra skater. The Huskies fought off the attack well, and with six seconds left in regulation, senior forward Kasidy Anderson extended her goal streak to four games with her 13th of the season, an empty-netter to ice the game.
Northeastern with the victory tonight and the Providence Friars’ loss to Boston University, Northeastern extended their lead in the conference to 8 points with 28 on the season.
The Huskies are back in action tomorrow at 2p.m. from Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill where they will complete their season series against BC.