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No Megan Keller? No problem.
With BC’s top defenseman away for two weeks with Team USA for the Four Nations tournament, BC had to come out strong to take 4 points on the weekend series against the UConn. After taking the 3-0 win in Storrs on Friday night, the Eagles took the party back home on Saturday for the 5-1 victory to complete the weekend sweep of the Huskies.
Boston College Goal #1: 1:14 of the 1st period
Caitrin Lonergan (Kristyn Cappizano, Toni Ann Miano)
BC 1, UC 0
Just over a minute in, freshman star Caitrin Lonergan puts together an excellent individual effort to put BC up 1-0. She splits two defenders on her way across the blue line and pokes the puck past Annie Belander before going for a spill into the boards.
Lonergan took a beating this weekend. In addition to this bounce off the boards, she also took some friendly fire on Friday and later Saturday that nearly resulted in injury. All is well in the kingdom, however.
Boston College Goal #2 (GWG): 11:12 of the 1st period
Ryan Little (Caroline Ross, Erin Connolly)
BC 2, UC 0
Another nice individual effort, this time from sophomore Ryan Little.
BC’s got a two on one after the Huskies can’t keep the puck in the Eagle end at the blue line. Little has no hesitation in chasing after the puck, and UConn’s Lexi Lersch is left in the dust.
On the two on one, Little takes it herself, and it’s a good shot to beat Belanger for the goal.
It was a trio of firsts on this goal — Little, Ross, and Connolly each earned their first point of the season.
Boston College Goal #3: 19:06 of the 1st period
Ryan Little (Grace Bizal, Delaney Belinskas)
BC 3, UC 0
Second of the game and second of the year for Ryan Little to close out the first period.
This is an enormous rebound in a dangerous spot for UConn, and it goes all the way out to defenseman Grace Bizal for the shot. Bizal fires it right back from whence it came, and Little gets a deflection on it for BC’s third goal of the first period.
UConn’s night ended pretty much before it had a chance to begin.
Boston College Goal #4: 8:00 of the 3rd period
Serena Sommerfield (Haley McLean, Kenzie Kent)
BC 4, UC 0
Another first, this time for sophomore Serena Sommerfield. The defenseman scores not just her first goal, but the first point of her career, to add to BC’s advantage.
Nothing fancy for the Eagles — just puck possession, open ice to shoot, and some traffic. Sommerfield’s shot is through a handful of skaters, and Belanger has a tough time seeing it through. 4-0 Eagles.
UConn Goal #1 (PPG): 11:37 of the 3rd period
Theresa Knutson (Jaime Fox, Leah Lum)
BC 4, UC 1
UConn managed to keep from getting completely shut out on the weekend with this power play goal late in the third.
Some decent puck movement from the Huskies, although it’s hard to say BC did anything wrong defensively. The Eagles have the slot pretty well bracketed with defenders, keeping UConn to the outside. Knutson gets the puck outside the faceoff dot from a tough angle, and just beats Gabri Switaj with the shot.
Boston College Goal #5 (SHG, ENG): 18:17 of the 3rd period
Andie Anastos (Kali Flanagan)
BC 5, UC 1 — FINAL
A patient shorthanded empty netter from Andie Anastos later, the Eagles had themselves a nice 5-1 conference win.
Of note this weekend was the game-changing abilities on display from senior captain Andie Anastos. After missing several games with an injury sustained against Minnesota-Duluth (including the loss to lowly Maine), Anastos has quickly become one of BC’s superstars. Her three power play goals on Friday tied an NCAA record, but even aside from the stats, the eyeball test certainly has BC as a better team when she’s on the ice.
It gets a little tougher for BC next week with a home and home against Boston University, with all-world defenseman Megan Keller still away with Team USA. A strong weekend against the Terriers will really put the Eagles on the right track heading into the meat & potatoes of the season.