GOAL BY GOAL: BC Women’s Hockey Comes From Behind In 2-1 Win Over Vermont

Despite having the best offense in women’s hockey this season, Boston College hasn’t blown teams out in the shot count much this season. Coming into Saturday’s game against Vermont, the Eagles had only posted 40+ shots once this season, which came in a 2-2 draw against UConn early in the season.

So despite needing a third period comeback to beat Vermont 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, you can’t feel too bad about the result given that BC posted a huge 43-25 shot advantage on the Catamounts. Were it not for the extraordinary efforts of Vermont’s goaltender Sydney Scobee, it could have been a much bigger night for the Eagles.

Vermont Goal #1: 14:23 of the 2nd period
Olivia Kilberg (Kourtney Menches, Daria O’Neill)

UVM 1, BC 0

Oooooof... not good! I don’t know if it was a tired line or something else, but BC basically didn’t even try on this play. Both Lonergan and Kent look like they have no gas in the tank and are praying to get off the ice.

The one BC skater who starts out behind the net does what she can, but she can’t start the breakout if there’s no one on the receiving end. Her chip up the boards only ends up in the possession of Vermont, and the BC forwards are caught looking up ice hoping for a change. The Catamounts spin the puck around on them creating a pretty inexcusable rush, and while Burt makes the initial save, Kilberg pots the rebound to put Vermont on top for the first time all weekend.

Up to this point, it felt like the Eagles were in control and it would only be a matter of time before they broke things open — as evidenced by their 22-9 second period shot advantage. But Sydney Scobee kept making save after save, and once Vermont pulled ahead, it was heartburn time at Kelley Rink.

Boston College Goal #1: 4:10 of the 3rd period
Toni Ann Miano (Kenzie Kent, Caroline Ross)

BC 1, UVM 1

Fortunately, the Eagles did eventually find the back of the net, courtesy of the nation’s leading defender, Toni Ann Miano.

Kenzie Kent and Miano combine for the play. Kent skates laterally across the top of the slot, and Miano has the vision to skate into the open space that’s created behind her. Now Miano has both a shooting lane and a great screen down low, and at long last, Scobee is beaten and the Eagles have their goal.

Boston College Goal #2 (GWG): 10:10 of the 3rd period
Toni Ann Miano (Makenna Newkirk, Caroline Ross)

BC 2, UVM 1 — FINAL

A few minutes later it’s Miano again with the game-winner on a very similar play. This time it’s Newkirk with a great pass from the far boards to the high slot, where Miano is ready to shoot again. Once again she’s got a lane, and once again there’s a great screen in front of Scobee (courtesy of Maegan Beres, just like on Friday).

It took blinding the goaltender a couple times, but BC had their comeback and came away with with the weekend sweep.

Things get much tougher for the Eagles next weekend as they get set for a home and home with 8th ranked Providence. The Friars gave the Eagles some trouble earlier in the season, as they are one of the few teams that seem to have the legs to skate with the Eagles on offense. With the #2 and #3 Pairwise teams Colgate and Clarkson having a soft schedule to end the season, a potential sweep over a top 10 team next weekend against the Friars would go a long way toward vaulting the Eagles into that important #2 Pairwise slot.