For the first 40 minutes of play, that goal appeared to be within the Huskies' reach. In the final 20, it slipped away.
The Wildcats scored four goals in the final period at Fenway, rallying from down 3-1 to defeat the Huskies for the 26th consecutive time. Freshman Kristina Lavoie had two goals for UNH in the final period, including the empty-netter in the final minute to ice the win.
For the Wildcats, ranked No. 4 nationally, it was a huge win for a squad angling for a Hockey East title this season. With the crucial conference win, UNH improves to 7-1-1 in conference play; Northeastern, ranked No. 9 in the nation, falls to 6-4-2-1.
Final: UNH 5, Northeastern 3
Schelling
comes out, and the Huskies can't capitalize. UNH controls the puck for
the final minute, and with the goalie pulled, it's an easy empty-net
goal for Kristina Lavoie to ice the Wildcat win. It's their 26th
consecutive victory over Northeastern since the inception of Hockey
East nearly a decade ago.
Third period, 1:02, 4-3 UNH: Final minute
coming up now, and it looks like the Huskies will have to pull their
goalie Schelling and get an extra attacker on the ice if they're going
to have a shot. Northeastern is desperate for one last goal to get back
into this game.
Third period, 3:04, 4-3 UNH: The pressure
will be on the Huskies for these final three minutes of play. They need
to keep the puck in the UNH zone and keep the pressure on the Wildcats
if they're going to have a chance. Right now, the momentum is all
Wildcats.
Third period, 4:34, 4-3 UNH: Somehow, the Wildcats have managed to steal this game away in the third period. A nice backhand deke by the freshman Kristina Lavoie creates
the go-ahead goal for UNH, and Northeastern has now blown a 3-1 goal in
the final period of play. They're running out of time to get this game
back.
Third period, 8:58, 3-3: And just like that, we're all tied up. Micaela Long notches
her ninth goal of the season for the Wildcats off of assists from
Birchard and Paton. She has registered at least one point in 12
consecutive games for UNH, and that streak lives on today. The Wildcats
are now alive as well.
Third period, 10:41, 3-2 Northeastern: With time ticking away, Northeastern gets a chance here to add to its lead — Courtney Birchard gets
two minutes for tripping, and it's yet another power play for the
Huskies. But with a two-minute interference call on Kristi Kehoe
seconds later, the power-play opportunity is quickly squelched. Still
3-2 Huskies.
Third period, 14:12, 3-2 Northeastern: With
the men's game between BU and BC coming up next here at Fenway, the
park is really starting to fill up. The house is packed, the snow is
really coming down and this game is liable to go right down to
the wire. It's been a fast third period so far, with the action moving
rapidly back and forth and both sides giving it everything they've got.
Third period, 18:30, 3-2 Northeastern: We're underway with the final period of play,
and Julie Allen has put the Wildcats back to within one goal of
Northeastern with a unassisted tally just 90 seconds in. This one just
got a whole lot closer — we could go down to the wire here at historic
Fenway Park.
End of second period, 3-1 Northeastern: Both teams turn
up the intensity for the final couple minutes of the second period, but
it amounts to nothing on the scoreboard. Schelling now has 18 saves on
19 shots for Northeastern heading into the second intermission, while Kayley Herman has seven saves in limited time spelling Minton here in the second period.
Second period, 1:59, 3-1 Northeastern: The Huskies mount another threat at the UNH goal, but Minton
stands her ground this time around. The Wildcats have to get more
aggressive and create opportunities if they're going to get back in
this game. Right now, that doesn't appear to be happening.
Second period, 4:24, 3-1 Northeastern:
Seventeen shots on goal, 16 saves now for Florence Schelling. Hard to
imagine the Wildcats managing to mount a comeback the way this kid is
holding down the Huskies' goal. Time slipping away here in the second
period.
Second period, 7:21, 3-1 Northeastern: Back to neutral
after a barrage of power plays. With Hogan in the box again here in the
second period, the Huskies looked solid on the penalty kill, staying
out of trouble and keeping their two-goal lead intact.
Second period, 9:38, 3-1 Northeastern: The snow keeps coming down harder, and
so does the Northeastern defense. UNH just keeps trying to chip away at
the Huskies' lead, but Schelling continues to keep the Wildcats at bay.
Meanwhile the Husky power play has been lethal today, so UNH will have
to be careful to keep this game from becoming a runaway.
Second period, 13:44, 3-1 Northeastern: Another power play opportunity for the Huskies, as UNH freshman Kailey Chappell
gets two minutes for holding, and they capitalize this time. It's now
3-1 Northeastern, as Brittany Esposito breaks through with her second
goal of the game to widen the Husky lead. Credit Annie Hogan and Kristi Kehoe with the assists.
Second period, 13:44, 2-1 Northeastern: UNH
has had a lot of opportunities on Schelling, especially on the power
play, but the NU sophomore is holding strong in net, now with 13 saves —
including four in a row during one UNH barrage. The Huskies are known
for giving up short-handers to UNH, but it doesn't appear to be
happening this time.
Second period, 15:59, 2-1 Northeastern: Time to test the Northeastern power play unit. With
UNH's Julie Allen whistled for interference, a two-minute penalty, the
Wildcats will be shorthanded and the Huskies will try to mount a threat
at an opportune moment.
End of first period, 2-1 Northeastern: That's
the horn, and we've reached the end of the first period of play. After
three goals in the first four minutes off the clock, both defenses
solidified and allowed no score in the 16 minutes that followed.
Schelling now has eight saves in goal for Northeastern, while Lindsey
Minton has three for the visiting Wildcats.
First period, 2:48, 2-1 Northeastern: UNH is
starting to put the pressure on as we near the end of the first period
— the Wildcats are trying to catch the Huskies before the end of the
period. They've come close a couple of times, but Schelling has held tough and protected the NU net.
First period, 7:12, 2-1 Northeastern: NU
sophomore Florence Schelling is showing no jetlag from her flight back
from visiting Switzerland with her Olympic teammates — the Huskies'
goalie has been tough between the pipes with six saves in seven shots
on goal.
First period, 9:58, 2-1 Northeastern: Halfway through the first period at Fenway, we finally have our first penalty — NU captain Annie Hogan is whistled for tripping at the 9:58 mark. That'll be a two-minute minor. Huskies are still in front by just the one goal.
First period, 11:42, 2-1 Northeastern: We're back in action
after a quick break to clear the snow off the ice. The storm is really
starting to pick up — "my hands are getting numb and my toes are
frozen. … I can only imagine what the players feel like," reports
Stephanie Wood. As for the action, UNH's dangerous Kelly Paton almost
slips through for a breakaway, but the Huskies are able to keep her at
bay. Still 2-1 NU.
First period, 13:26, 2-1 Northeastern: A goal from Shannon Sisk, her first of the season, off an assist from Sarah Cuthbert
has put the Wildcats back to within one. After three goals in the first
four minutes of the game, the action has started to settle down — both
sides are starting to toughen up defensively and make this thing competitive.
First period, 16:19, 2-0 Northeastern: Well, that didn't take long.
The Huskies have broken this thing open early, scoring first 90 seconds
into the game and then again soon after to take a two-goal lead. Brittany Esposito and Casey Pickett have both gotten on the board early for Northeastern.
4:09 p.m.: Hockey legends Colleen Coyne and Shelley Looney are taking the ice for the honorary puck drop — we're set to get underway from frozen Fenway Park in just a moment.
4:05 p.m.: As expected, the fans at Fenway are putting their
support behind the "home team" of sorts, the Northeastern Huskies,
during player introductions. The Huskies are going with sophomore Florence Schelling between the pipes, according to NESN's Stephanie Wood. The UNH Wildcats will stick with their starting goalie, sophomore Lindsey Minton.
3:59 p.m.: The teams begin to take the ice. There isn't a player on either team who isn't grinning ear to ear.
3:44 p.m.: The players are just finishing up warm-ups. The snow
is coming down harder by the minute at Fenway Park, and the coaches and
trainers on the bench are bundled up and rubbing their hands to keep
warm. The music is blasting at Fenway, and both teams have their bands
and mascots in full force.
2:00 p.m.: Last week, we were treated to a marquee matchup of two historical NHL
powers outdoors on a cold Friday afternoon; this week, we're giving it
the ol' college try.
One week after the Bruins' 2-1 win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on New Year's Day at Fenway Park, the women's hockey teams from Northeastern and the University of New Hampshire take the ice at one of America's most sacred sports venues. The UNH Wildcats, ranked No. 4 nationally in both major polls this season, are historically 25-0 against the Huskies since the inception of Hockey East prior to the 2002-03 season.
The Wildcats have history on their side, but the Huskies have the home ice. Friendly Fenway's playing host to top-notch sporting events year-round.
