Connolly helps Eagles repeat
Redshirt freshman center Erin Connolly of South Boston picked the perfect time to end a seven-game goal drought, potting a pass to the net front for the game-winner as No. 6 Boston College defended its Beanpot title with an exciting 2-1 win against Northeastern last night at Matthews Arena.
The Eagles won their seventh title in 39 women’s Beanpots and their first repeat title since 2006 and 2007. Northeastern lost the title game on home ice for the first time in nine tries.
The 5-foot-7 Connolly was stationed perfectly in front to convert tic-tac-toe feeds from Andie Anastos and Norwell’s Kenzie Kent at 12:56 of the third. It was Connolly’s seventh goal of the season, and she was named tournament MVP.
“It was a perfect time for her. I told them they had to be there in the third period. It was a nice way for her to finish, a Boston kid, too,’’ BC coach Katie Crowley said. “We’re doing a great job of showing poise and coming back, although it would be nice if the next time we could score first.’’
Huskies sophomore Brittany Bugalski, who made 50 saves in two games, won the Joe Bertagna Award as the Beanpot’s top goaltender.
“It was a hard-fought game, back and forth, with a lot of good chances,’’ NU coach David Flint said. “Unfortunately, it was one miscue on the penalty kill that ended up being the game-winner. Credit to them, they make you pay for your mistakes.”
NU (18-10-3), which was chasing its 17th title, the most of the four entrants, was playing without top scorer Denisa Krizova, who is on duty with her Czech Republic team at a Four Nations tournament in Switzerland. Despite the absence of Krizova, who had a pair of assists in Northeastern’s 4-1 semifinal win against Harvard, the Huskies went toe-to-toe with last year’s national runners-up.
But the Eagles (21-3-5) began to tilt the ice in the second period, pressuring Bugalski. Kent tried to slam home a loose puck in front near the 3:00 mark. A followup blast by Anastos tipped off an NU defender and changed direction on Bugalski, who had to react quickly with the right leg pad. NU senior Heather Mottau of Milton made a key defensive play when she dove to break up a 3-on-1 threat.
BC came on a rush to begin the third, but NU defenseman Maddie Hartman broke it up. Freshman winger Andrea Benner took possession and sprung sophomore Kasidy Anderson with a long pass. The right winger snapped a wrist shot past BC goalie Katie Burt (19 saves) into the upper left corner at 1:07 for her 10th goal of the season.
Senior winger Kristyn Capizzano restored BC’s hopes by equalizing at 8:37, her 13th goal. It moved the speedy forward to within one point of 100 for her career.
In the consolation game, Boston University (13-10-6) and Harvard (3-17-4) skated to a 6-6 tie.
BU graduate transfer Mark Parker scored twice against her former club. Maddie Elia and Victoria Bach joined her with three points each. Junior forwards Rebecca Leslie and Nina Rodgers had two points apiece. Harvard squandered a pair of goals off the stick of junior center Haley Mullins, one of thee Crimson skaters to register multiple points (Lexie Laing, Sydney Daniels).