BOSTON — Northeastern’s Tuesday game against rival Boston University was a nail-biter from start to finish. BU started out strong with a first-period goal from Deziray De Sousa.
Northeastern is rarely behind at all, much less in the opening frame, and leads the nation with 42 first-period goals this season. However, the Huskies seemed off their game in the first, perhaps due to Chloe Aurard — the conference’s second-leading scorer with 17 goals — hitting the goalpost and hurting her wrist. (Aurard continued to play.)
In the second period the Huskies returned to form. Four minutes in, Northeastern goalie Aerin Frankel was called for tripping after she stuck her stick out. Gill Foote served the penalty, and a power play began for BU. However, luck wasn’t on the Terriers’ side as Alina Mueller broke away after getting the puck from Mia Brown and tied the game with a shorthanded goal.
Five minutes later, Veronika Pettey was called for hooking, giving BU a chance to pull ahead. Northeastern’s penalty kill was ready, and quickly took control of the puck. Mueller looked like she was going to score her second goal of the night, but was blocked by goaltender Corinne Schroeder. Matti Hartman took the rebound and looked like she might get the puck in, but it was blocked yet again. In an astounding move, defenseman Skylar Fontaine got the rebound and fired it in to give Northeastern the lead.
During the third period the Huskies were aggressive, blocking shots and checking players. Multiple BU players fell to the ice as the two teams battled for the puck, with each team getting just nine shots. With a few minutes remaining, Northeastern’s Katy Knoll earned a five-minute major penalty and, upon review, a ten-minute game misconduct after her body check from behind sent a BU player into the wall. Both players, albeit for different reasons, left the rink. Northeastern spent the rest of the game on the penalty kill and responded beautifully, ending the game at 2–1.
Northeastern’s penalty kill unit is one of the strongest in the nation. Their aggressive strategy of pursuing and controlling the puck quickly has earned them more shorthanded goals (six) than power-play goals (five) this season.
“It’s nice we can destroy their power play,” Mueller said.
Fontaine added, “Once we got that first one, with the PK, we got the momentum going and kept going and we ended up getting a second.”
Northeastern will look to extend their seven-game winning on Friday at home against the University of Connecticut.