All-Huskies final on ice
UConn stuns Boston College; Northeastern downs Maine
HOCKEY EAST WOMEN
Heavy underdog UConn staged a monumental 4-2 upset of top-seeded and two-time defending champion Boston College yesterday in the Hockey East Women’s tournament before 1,202 fans at Matthews Arena.
The win by UConn (16-139) combined with a 2-1 win by fourth-seeded Northeastern (18-16-3) over thirdseeded Maine sets up an allHuskies championship game today.
It marks UConn’s third
trip to the championship game and first since 2010.
NU, which scored its game-winner in the third period on a rebound effort by sophomore center Matti Hartman, will be making its second straight trip to the final and fourth overall. Both teams are chasing a first Hockey East title.
“Honestly, they believe that they’re going to win a championship. That’s the one banner that’s missing out there,” NU coach Dave Flint said. “Oviously, that was one of my goals when I came here and to do it in our own building would be amazing.”
UConn was led by a pair of goals off the stick of stellar freshman Natalie Snodgrass, acrobatic work from all-league goaltender Annie Belanger (29 saves) and the game-winning tally from an unexpected source in junior center Nora Maclaine of Easton, who picked an opportune time for her first goal of the year.
“I would say very timely,” UConn coach Chris MacKenzie said.
UConn blocked 27 shots and was 30-of-47 on faceoffs.
“It starts with Annie (Belanger). She’s done it for her whole career. She’s peaking at the right time,” MacKenzie said. “Everyone (in this league) is good but when you have a special group it shows.”
Prohibitive favorite BC (30-4-3) jumped ahead with a power-play goal at 7:40. Ace freshman Daryl Watts, who recently was named Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, accepted a pass to the right of the crease from sophomore center Caitrin Lonergan of Roslindale and roofed the puck home for her nation-leading 42nd goal. The point allowed Watts to tie Minnesota’s Hannah Brandt (2012-13) for the second-most points ever by an NCAA freshman with 82.
UConn, the first No. 7 seed to reach the semifinals, tied it on a power play at 13:07. Snodgrass snapped a wrist shot over the glove of BC senior Katie Burt of Lynn.
UConn grabbed its first lead at 4:34 of the second after Snodgrass was sprung clear on a pass by Catherine Crawley. Snodgrass faked Burt, switched to the backhand and deposited her 21st of the season.
UConn’s Maclaine scored in the third period for a twogoal cushion.
Makenna Newkirk connected for BC at 12:40 of the third, but UConn’s Theresa Knutson scored into the empty net at 19:20.
Game 2 saw NU fall behind against the Black Bears (19-14-5) in the first before rallying on goals by Veronika Pettey and Hartman.
NU freshman goalie Aerin Frankel made 15 of her 24 saves in the third.
“Playing at home helped. We’re very comfortable in our own building,” Hartman said.