Terrier Icewomen Take Round One of Beanpot

Jill Cardella (ENG’13) scores the first goal of the semifinal round of the 2012 Women’s Beanpot at Walter Brown Arena. The Terriers trounced Harvard 5-2. Photos by Brooks Canaday

The Boston University Terriers are on target in their quest for their first Beanpot championship, skating to a 5-2 victory over the Harvard Crimson last night in the first round of the 34th annual Women’s Beanpot Tournament. They’ll face Northeastern next Tuesday night in the championship game. A victory in that game would give them a prize they’ve sought since becoming a varsity team seven years ago.

The Terriers dominated the first period, ending with 19 shots on goal to Harvard’s 4, finding the net twice for a 2-0 lead. BU started the scoring with 6:30 gone, when starting center Jill Cardella (ENG’13) beat Crimson goalie Laura Bellamy on a shorthanded goal after forward Caroline Campbell (SED’14) was sent to the penalty box for tripping.

Cardella’s goal smashed an 11-period scoreless streak for Bellamy, the reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Goalie of the Week. Bellamy fell again later in the period after some overly aggressive play by her teammates. After a slashing penalty on Kelsey Romatoski at 10:45, the Crimson committed two more penalties in the next 104 seconds, giving BU an enormous advantage for the next several minutes.

The Terriers soon overwhelmed Bellamy with shots, and defender Kaleigh Fratkin (CGS’12) found the net for her third goal of the season. Defender Tara Watchorn (CAS’12) and center Taylor Holze (CAS’13) earned assists on the play.

The Crimson entered last night’s game on a hot streak, having won their last three games and five of the past six. As the number-eight ranked team in the nation and the second place team in the ECAC, Harvard figured to challenge the Terriers late into the game.

But Marie-Philip Poulin (SED’14) (above, center) put Harvard further in the hole with 4:37 gone in the second, getting an assist from linemate Louise Warren (CGS’12) (above, right). After struggling offensively for much of the season, the Canadian standout and former Olympic gold medalist has transformed the Terriers’ offense since her return from injury, against Maine earlier in the month.

BU gave Harvard ample opportunity to get back in the game thanks to three power plays, made possible by penalties on Kathryn Miller (CGS’11, COM’13), captain Jenn Wakefield (CAS’12), and Carly Warren (MET’12).

But the Terriers defense withstood the onslaught of power plays, and goalie Kerrin Sperry (CAS’14) was unrelenting, earning one spectacular save on a shot by Harvard defenseman Marissa Gedman late in the period.

Center Isabel Menard (CAS’13) and Wakefield each added a goal in the period’s final two minutes, giving BU a 5-0 cushion.

The same sloppy play that plagued BU in the middle of the second period surfaced again in the third, though, giving Harvard more opportunities to retaliate. After Miller and Wakefield committed back-to-back penalties within 30 seconds, Crimson defender Josephine Pucci scored her team’s first goal, playing with a two-man advantage.

BU compounded its mistakes when Watchorn was sent to the bench for two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Harvard yet another power play opportunity. This time it was Crimson leading scorer Jillian Dempsey who found the net, bringing the game to within three goals with just over five minutes left. Miller went on to commit yet another penalty—her fourth of the game—with under a minute left, but the Terriers fought through physical play and kept Harvard off the board for the 5-2 win.

Northeastern defeated Boston College 2-1 in a shootout in the tournament’s first game, earning a slot in next week’s championship game. BC and Harvard will face off in the consolation game. Currently ranked number six in the nation, the Huskies are now all that prevent the Terrier icewomen from notching a milestone victory.

The BU Terriers face the Northeastern Huskies in the Beanpot championship game Tuesday, February 7, at Walter Brown Arena, at 8 p.m. Harvard and Boston College play in the consolation game at Walter Brown at 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for the general public, $3 for children 12 and under and seniors, and free for students from each of the four participating schools showing a valid student ID. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at Walter Brown Arena one hour before the game.

Ben Carsley can be reached at bcarsley@bu.edu.