Boston College women’s hockey seems to have a pretty foolproof formula: Spread out the scoring, and watch goaltender Katie Burt go to work.
The Eagles scored two goals in each of the first two periods en route to a convincing 5-0 shutout of No. 9 Maine on Friday afternoon. BC (27-3-3, 18-2-3 Hockey East) saw nine different players record points, Burt stopped every shot that came her way, and the Eagles carried over their momentum from their third consecutive Beanpot championship to extend their points lead in the conference to an impressive 12.
Daryl Watts led the way with three points, including a second-period goal that tied former Northeastern forward and current U.S. National Team member Kendall Coyne’s Hockey East single-season record. It was also her 40th on the year, continuing her incredible inaugural season.
Watts wasn’t the only Eagle to etch her name in the record books, though. Fresh off the game-winning goal last game, Toni Ann Miano tied BC’s single-season goals record for defensmen with her 17th, pulling even with Genevieve Missirilian in 1997-98.
Miano finished with three points as well, while Caitrin Lonergan added two to round out the multi-point performances. Burt piled up 30 saves in the win, as the Eagles continued their dominance of the Black Bears (17-11-5, 11-8-4)—now having won 21 of the last 22 meetings.
For Maine, seeking to finish second in the conference for the first time in school history, the loss was a setback. It sits a point back of second-place Providence, which plays on Sunday. The Black Bears will need a win in the rematch with the Eagles, paired with a Friars loss at home against Northeastern, to get the No. 2 spot in the upcoming Hockey East playoffs.
Maine contained its visitors for the first 14 minutes or so, even outshooting them. But the tables turned quickly. The Eagles put four chances on net in succession, and the last lit the lamp. Lonergan flipped a high backhand shot past Black Bears goaltender Carly Jackson, finishing Bridget McCarthy’s pass from the blue line.
A big chance for the Black Bears came minutes later, but a partial breakaway’s first effort was denied by Burt, then Kenzie Kent cleared it from the line. Any momentum Maine might’ve had going into the first intermission dissipated, though, as Delaney Belinskas poked in a rebound off of a Watts shot with seven-tenths of a second left on the clock.
The pressure only picked up on Jackson in the second, facing a shot as early as 12 seconds into the period. Watts broke through at the 1:25 mark, getting sent in on net for a breakaway via a Molly Slowe pass. Slowe was shifted to the Watts-Lonergan line during the Beanpot championship, and the move has paid off.
Jackson robbed Serena Sommerfield from the circle later in the period, but then couldn’t stop teammate Makenna Newkirk. Miano blocked a shot and sent it ahead to Kent, who then found Newkirk for the game’s fourth goal. That would be the nail in the coffin for Jackson, who was pulled and replaced with Loryn Porter in the third period.
Porter couldn’t contain the Eagles either, allowing a goal just over five minutes into the third. Miano finished off a give-and-go with Willow Corson to tie the record. BC was outshot down the stretch, 12-9, but Burt held strong to record her fourth shutout on the season.
It was just another routine win for BC, who has rolled over conference competition throughout the season. The Eagles have claimed two of the four trophies they’re shooting for, as the next two up are the Hockey East Tournament title and the coveted National Championship. With a diverse offensive attack and a steady presence in net, BC is well on its way.
Featured Image by Celine Lim / Heights Staff
