Women's Ice Hockey Tripped Up at #6/6 Boston College
Links: Box Score
BOSTON, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's ice hockey team was tripped up in its season-series finale at #6/6 Boston College on Wednesday night, falling to the Eagles by a score of 4-1 in a midweek Hockey East matchup.
The Basics
Score: #6/6 Boston College 4, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (8-17-3, 4-14-0 HEA) | #6/6 Boston College (19-3-4, 15-2–2 HEA)
Location: Conte Forum | Boston, Mass.
How It Happened
- The Warriors began Wednesday's contest at Boston College with a chance to take an early lead, as the Eagles would take a penalty just 3:11 into the first period. But the sixth-ranked team in the nation would make the exact opposite happen, forcing a Merrimack turnover in the neutral zone and turning it into a shorthanded score to put the Warriors in a 1-0 deficit less than five minutes into the game.
- Merrimack would bounce back from the shorthanded tally, creating some offense following the goal looking to tie. Sophomore goaltender Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Saskatchewan) would bounce back as well, making handful of tough saves following the score, but still saw the Eagles extend their lead to 2-0 on an opportunistic rebound at the midway point of the first.
- Despite the early deficit, the Warriors kept pressing in the opening period which resulted in some quality scoring chances, including a breakaway opportunity for sophomore Emily Volpe (Whitby, Ontario) was broken up by a great play from the goaltender. Despite the chances and outshooting the Eagles 11-9 in the period, Merrimack would be unable to get on the board in the first period.
- After a stretch of several scoring chances for the Warriors in the first half of the second period, Merrimack would finally get on the board to cut the deficit to 2-1 at 9:00 of the frame. Sophomore Annie Boeckers (Otsego, Minn.) would be responsible for the score, cleaning up a loose puck in the crease after a quality shift from her line featuring sophomore Paige Voight (St. Michael, Minn.) and freshman Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ontario).
- Merrimack would get another power play chance late in the second with an opportunity to tie the game, but again would see the Eagles force and capitalize on a turnover and net their second shorthanded goal of the game, extending their lead to 3-1 heading into the final period.
- Following a strong 10-save effort through the first 10 minutes of the final period from Ridgewell, the Eagles would extend their lead to 4-1 on an impressive backhander from one of the nation's top scorers in Makenna Newkirk with 9:15 remaining in the game. Merrimack would see a few chances late in the latter half of the third, but would be held scoreless in the final period.
Inside The Numbers
- After scoring just two goals in 21 games as a freshman, Boeckers' improves her career-high to seven goals on the season in 28 games. Her score Wednesday marks her second straight game with a tally.
- Grant-Mentis improves her team-leading assist total to 15 on the year, and is tied for the team lead with 20 points. She has registered four assists in the last three games, and is tied for third in the nation among rookies in assists.
- Goaltenders: L – Ridgewell (3-6-2, 30 saves) | W – Burt (17-3–4, 23 saves)
- Power Plays: Merrimack (0-3) | BC (0-1)
- SOG: MC – 34 | BC – 24
Up Next
The Warriors return to Lawler Rink on Saturday to host Boston University for the season-series finale with the Terriers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
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