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It was a tough night for the BC women's hockey team. The Eagles fell behind early and couldn't claw their way back against the Orange, falling 4-1 to scrappy Syracuse.
BC started out very, very sloppy and gave up a goal right off the bat just 2:44 into the game.
If the Eagles were going to mount a comeback, it was going to come in the first period. After falling behind, BC put together a relentless attack, dominating the remaining of the first period en route to outshooting Syracuse 15-5 in the period. Unfortunately, Syracuse tender Kallie Billadeau was more than up to the task, stopping every BC shot along the way.
It was the support that the Orage needed. Syracuse again came out strong in the second period and scored early for the second time, this time on the power play, to go up 2-0.
Syracuse matched BC's intensity throughout the second frame. Shot for shot, Billadeau stopped the Eagles, and she was rewarded with another insurance goal by her offense at the end of the period. Syracuse took a 3-0 lead into the locker room and the Eagles looked shellshocked.
BC battled in the third period, and got one back before the midway point of the period -- exactly what they needed to try and mount a comeback. But, in a turn of events that proved that Syracuse truly deserved this one, the Orange answered less than a minute later to pull right back ahead by 3. And that was all she wrote.
Syracuse is the only other ACC school with a women's hockey team, so this was, in effect, a de facto conference championship game. I'm not sure what hurts more, losing the conference or losing the Orange Eagle points...
BC once again dominated their opponent in shots but struggled to find the back of the net. Remarkably, BC's powerplay is among the worst in the entire country -- the Eagles are only 2 for 34 on the season with the man advantage. And it was the story again tonight, with BC going 0 for 7 and being held to perimeter shots for the majority of their possessions.
BC is going through a frustrating stretch of hockey at the moment, but fortunately it's early in the year and there is plenty of time to get it together. The Eagles will have a week to simmer over this one, with their next shot to get back into the win column coming next Friday and Sunday against strong conference opponent Providence College.