The Boston College women’s hockey team topped rivals Boston University 4-1 in the first round of the Women’s Beanpot.
BC’s power play efficiency proved crucial in its 4-1 win, as two of the Eagles’ four goals came off of the power play. Taylor Wasylk even managed a shorthanded goal to put BC up 1-0 in the first period when she scooped a deflected Dana Trivigno shot into the back of the net.
“Today, we were able to find some seams and put pucks home when we had the opportunity,” said BC head coach Katie King Crowley. “On the other side, I thought our kids did a nice job of blocking shots. I thought Corinne [Boyles] did a nice job of not leaving too many rebounds there for them, and our D did a good job of clearing pucks out of the way as well.”
BU had four power plays, the same amount as BC, but the Eagles’ power play unit outlasted the Terriers’ extra man.
“We ask our kids to sacrifice a little bit on that penalty kill and they did a nice job,” Crowley said.
Her average size may make it easy for Haley Skarupa to blend in with the rest of the team, but when she has the puck, she is unmistakable. Skarupa’s stick-handling ability, combined with her speed, makes her one of the standouts among the Eagles.
This ability translates into goals, too, as she leads the team with 18 goals on the season. After coming back from injury in the Providence game, Skarupa has scored four goals in two games, as she bagged two against the Terriers.
“I think it is a really nice way to start coming back. Obviously it was hard not playing, and then coming back like this is probably the best way,” Skarupa said.
She netted her first goal on a first period power play, when a backhanded pass across the face of goal landed at her stick, and she swept the puck into the net. Her second was an empty netter, coming with around two minutes left in the third period.
“It’s been nice. It’s good to return and return like this,” Skarupa said.
The Eagles will next play Northeastern in the Women’s Beanpot Final. The Huskies upset Harvard with a 4-3 win over the Crimson at Conte Forum, directly before the BC vs. BU game.
Northeastern forced Harvard to make a late comeback attempt, leading them 4-1 midway through the game. Seeing as Harvard held the slight edge in shots for the game, junior goalie Chloe Desjardins provided 27 vital saves to help the Huskies outlast Harvard.
The championship game will be played on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. at Conte Forum.
Crowley said that the Eagles’ primary focus will be their game on Saturday, and that they will prepare for Northeastern after that matchup.
“We can’t overlook that we have UConn over this weekend, so that will be the game that we focus on,” she said. “Obviously we saw a little bit of Northeastern’s game today, and I thought they played really well against a really good Harvard team.”
