Boston College women’s hockey’s 3-0 win over Vermont was one of those victories that will be remembered more for its future implications than for the game itself.
Sunday afternoon’s record-breaking win kept the Eagles (32-0-0, 22-0-0 Hockey East) perfect on the season as they clinched their third straight Hockey East regular-season championship over the Catamounts (8-22-2, 6-14-2).
The shutout was goaltender Katie Burt’s 13th of the year and 22nd of her career, both representing new program records. BC also broke a school record with 13 total shutouts this season.
The milestone marathon in Burlington started when Makenna Newkirk set up Kaliya Johnson for a deep shot in the first period. Johnson’s attempt was tipped by Andie Anastos, and the deflection slid past Vermont netminder Madison Litchfield for the game’s first goal. Newkirk’s 21st assist of the season brought her point streak to eight games, spanning some of the Eagles’ most important games of the year.
In the second period, Meghan Grieves continued the scoring with her ninth goal of the season, a wrist shot above the glove of Litchfield, to give BC a 2-0 advantage.
With less than a minute remaining, senior stars Alex Carpenter and Haley Skarupa battled for possession of the puck deep in Catamount territory. Carpenter emerged with the puck and found Kenzie Kent in front of the net for the sophomore’s third goal in the last three games. Kent’s finish also helped Carpenter move ahead of Northeastern’s Kendall Coyne for the national points lead, as the Olympian’s 35th assist gives her 72 points on the year.
Skarupa received credit for the assist, too, leaving her in third place behind Coyne and Carpenter with 60 total points this season.
The last series of the regular season is slated for next weekend, when Skarupa and Carpenter will be honored for Senior Day against Providence on Friday. Anything less than a standing ovation will be inappropriate for the legendary pair.
Sunday’s win may have been quiet, but it sure sent a statement to potential playoff opponents: Good luck scoring on this defense.
Featured Image by Michael Sullivan / Heights Editor
