Boston College Sweeps a Home-and-Home Against UConn

The Boston College Eagles skated to a sweep of the UConn Huskies this weekend.

The Eagles took the opener in Storrs, Conn., 3-0. Senior and Connecticut Whale prospect Andie Anastos scored her second career hat trick on three power play goals, making her one of nine NCAA skaters to accomplish the task. Katie Burt posted her 25th career shutout, a 17-save performance.

On Saturday the teams played an afternoon match in Chestnut Hill, Mass., where BC completed the sweep with a score of 5-1. Caitrin Lonergan continued her impressive freshman campaign with a goal, and Ryan Little recorded the first multigoal game of her career, scoring two. Serena Sommerfield picked up her first career goal, and Anastos scored a shorthander; Theresa Knutson netted the lone Husky goal of the weekend.

On Goaltending, and the Importance Of

Both netminders had impressive weekends. Annie Belanger of the Huskies recorded 43 saves on Friday, a season high. She posted 32 saves on Saturday for a combined 75-save effort against the Eagles this weekend. She retains her status as top goaltender in Hockey East by save percentage (.942) but has dropped to third by goals against average (1.99).

However, that goaltending means nothing if your team cannot back it up with offense, which is exactly what Burt and Gabri Switaj received. Each made 17 saves, with Switaj allowing one power play goal on Saturday.

First Time for Everything

BC forward Little scored two even strength goals on Saturday for her first multigoal game of the season. Sommerfield had dressed for 28 games last year and eight games this year before recording a goal today for her first collegiate point.

Secondary scoring has become highly important for the Eagles this season and it has manifested in players like Lonergan and her impressive freshman campaign as well as veterans like Little, Sommerfield and Grace Bizal, who contributed with an assist and seven shots over the weekend.

Barbito’s Brutal Truth

Despite their fluky loss to Maine, it looks like Boston College is still the team to beat in Hockey East. UConn only put one puck in the back of the net all weekend, but only managed 35 shots through six periods of hockey. You do not need a degree in rocket science to understand this is not a winning formula. Knutson led the team in shots both games with three, which means no one fired more than six on net all weekend.

The Huskies’ second line (Leah Lum-Briana Colangelo-Theresa Knuston) are their primary scorers, and the only three skaters with five or more points on the entire roster. The only way this team will get to winning hockey games against tough opponents is to generate more shots from all 12 forwards, or they will be leaving Belanger high and dry after each stellar performance.

Boston College will be back in action this weekend in a home-and-home against Boston University. They will open Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in Conte Forum and travel to Walter Brown Arena for a game on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m.

UConn will play Merrimack at Lawler Rink in North Andover, Mass., on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. and travel to the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H., on Sunday, Nov. 6, for another 2 p.m. matinee.