Boston College and Northeastern Advance to 2017 Beanpot Championship

Boston College advances to Beanpot Champiopnship (@BC_WHokcey/Twitter)

#6 Boston College Def. Boston University 3-2

The No. 6 ranked Boston College Eagles earned an opportunity to defend their Beanpot championship after a come back win against rival, the Boston University Terriers in the Beanpot semifinals Tuesday evening.

The Eagles held an 18-8-1 all time record against the Terriers in their 27 meetings in Beanpot play. Boston University came into the matchup going 1-2-4 in their last seven games since upsetting then No. 2 Minnesota.

The Eagles picked up two third period scores to erase a one goal deficit and come back to defeat the Terriers 3-2 at Matthews Arena in Boston.

Sophomore, Makenna Newkirk scored just 1:17 into the first period to quickly put the Eagles in front and set the tone for the offense. Boston College fired 13 shots on Terrier goaltender, Victoria Hanson; who played well despite the early goal. The Eagles took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Boston College came into the contest second in the nation in combined specials teams, first in penalty kills and second on the power play. The Terriers have been the Eagles kryptonite all season, scoring five of the 10 power play goals allowed.

Bridget McCarthy took the first penalty for Boston College just two minutes into the second period, but the Terriers could not convert on the opportunity. However, the advantage gave the team some much needed momentum following the first period.

Later, Erin Connelly was assessed a checking minor and sent to the penalty box giving Boston University another chance on the power play. Nina Rodgers made the Eagles pay just 19 seconds into the advantage scoring to tie the game at one. Just over two minutes later on another power play opportunity, Maddie Elia skated into the BC zone and snuck one past Katie Burt to give the Terriers a 2-1 lead.

Boston University held a 21-18 shot lead going into the second intermission. The Terriers, looking for their first Beanpot championship since 1981 and second in program history, were 20 minutes away from playing for a title shot.

“I told them to take a deep breathe and that everything’s going to be alright.” Boston College head coach Katie King Crowley told the media following the game. “ If we win the third period we will win this hockey game and they won the third period.”

The Eagles got a big boost from their underclassmen in the third period and a penalty to Deziray De Sousa for tripping was the break the Eagles needed. Newkirk picked up her second goal of the game with a sick wrist shot that hit the crossbar and went in behind Hanson.

With less than three minutes left in regulation, freshman, Caitrin Longergan took a Megan Keller pass and buried home the eventual game winner. The Roslindale, Ma native started the season with 19 points in her first 13 games but struggled in her last 13 games, only accounted for five points. Longergan finished the night with a goal and an assist, her first multi point game since November 11th (4 @UNH).

Katie Burt worked her way into 10th all time in career wins with her 83rd of her still young career. The junior made 25 saves in the win.

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Paige Savage (#28) scores twice to send Huskies into Championship (Northeastern Athletics)

Northeastern Def. Harvard 4-1

The Northeastern Huskies are looking for some redemption in the Beanpot this year and will get a chance to get it after dispatching Harvard 4-1 in the semifinal matchup Tuesday night.

The Huskies, return to the championship game for the 27th time in Beanpot history where they hold a 16-10 record. Awaiting the Huskies were the Boston College Eagles, who humiliated Northeastern, 7-0 in last years Beanpot finals.

Northeastern got a pair of scores from senior, Paige Savage to help guide the Huskies into the rematch with the Eagles. Line mate Halle Silva started the scoring on their first shift of the game when she converted on a Paige Capistran pass just 59 second into the game. Savage added her first of the game 7:39 into the frame and doubled the lead for the Huskies.

The Crimson got back into the contest when Lexie Laing skated past the slot and lifted a backhand shot through the defense to cut the deficit to one. Harvard has struggled this season with just three wins on the year all of which have come in conference play.

The Huskies picked up the pressure in the last 10 minutes of the second and were rewarded for their effort when Savage scored her second of the game with under six minutes to play. The Crimson could not get out of their own way, taking five penalties giving the Huskies plenty of opportunities to pad the lead.

McKenna Brand added to her NCAA leading goal lead with a third period goal for her 22nd of the season. Brittany Bugalski was phenomenal all night, the Sophomore made 28 saves to shut the door on Harvard and set up a date with Boston College in the Beanpot Championship.

“Yeah we haven’t forgotten about last year… We are all pretty pumped to get a shot at redemption after what they [Boston College] did to us last year” said Hayley Scamurra

The Eagles and Huskies will meet in the finals for the first time since 2013 where Northeastern defeated Boston College at Matthews Arena 4-3. Last year the Eagles dismissed the Huskies 7-0 in the championship game.

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