#4 Boston College Women's Hockey Loses To #6 Northeastern In A Shootout In The Beanpot Semifinals

Last night's game was the classic example of why shootouts are an awful way to settle a hockey game.

Boston College Women's Hockey and Northeastern played 65 minutes of some of the most entertaining hockey of the year. The game was incredibly even, with NU holding a 42-36 edge in shots, each team scoring their regulation goal in the 2nd period, and each team having 3 power plays. Unfortunately, Northeastern won the shootout 2-0 to break the 1-1 tie and advance to the Beanpot finals.

The game was delayed about 20 minutes at the start due to some ice issue's at BU's Walter Brown Arena, where an earlier Zamboni failure dumped a bit of grease on the ice. The rink crew cut out a chunk of the ice and flooded the spot, but the arena wasn't quite cold enough to freeze it over in time. They had to resort to spraying the area with a fire extinguisher (huh?) to help cool it enough to freeze over.

Once the game got underway, it was clear that both teams were tied atop the Hockey East standings for a reason. It was a very up-tempo game with tons of chances for each team but neither able to find the back of the net until the 2nd period. Northeastern's Rachel Llanes put home a rebound that trickled by BC's Corinne Boyles for the 1-0 lead.

BC tied the score late in the period when Emily Field found the back of the net with just under 2 minutes to go. It was the one goal I didn't see, as I was under the stands getting ready to do my best Billy Cundiff impression in the 2nd intermission Super Shot. Double fail.

The game remained tied through the third period, despite chances for each side. Overtime stayed scoreless until BC's freshman superstar Alex Carpenter dangled her way through three Northeastern defenders and beat Northeastern's Swiss Olympic goalie, Florence Schelling, only to ring the iron. It was a fantastic individual effort that was just inches away from sending the BC faithful into a frenzy.

BC will take on Harvard in the consolation game next week - a huge game against a good Harvard team sitting in 9th in the PWR. BC desperately needs the win to hold onto its 4th place standing, as the top 4 teams in the PWR host their respective NCAA quarterfinal. The game is at Walter Brown Arena at Boston University at 5pm next Tuesday.