No. 2 Boston College and Northeastern split weekend series

Northeastern earned their second win over a top-two opponent in the nation on Friday, Jan. 12, with a 4-2 victory over Boston College in Conte Forum. Lauren Kelly scored midway through the first to give NU an early 1-0 lead.

The Eagles’ captain, junior Makenna Newkirk, scored a power play goal just over two minutes into the second period to even the game at one. She would tally an assist later in the game, which would move her into the top 10 for all-time career scoring for Boston College.

Redshirt junior Tori Sullivan, who transferred from BC to NU over the summer, scored quickly in the third period to give NU the lead back. The Eagles responded a few minutes later with a power play goal from sophomore Caitrin Lonergan.

NU sophomore Andrea Renner scored the gamewinning goal five and a half minutes into the third period. Senior Taytum Clairmont added another goal to make it 4-2, and sophomore Brittany Bugalski made 26 saves on 28 shots in a bounce-back performance.

Snipe + Celly. Renner has both covered on this beautiful backhand! #GoNU pic.twitter.com/a7jmYvgbCO

— Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) January 12, 2018

On Saturday, the two teams met again at historic Matthews Arena. Senior Toni Ann Miano opened up scoring just nine seconds into the game, and followed up with another goal on the power play.

NU captain, senior Shelby Herrington, scored her first goal since opening night to bring the Huskies within one, but not before Miano completed her hat trick with her third goal in the first period. Bugalski, who had started the game for Northeastern, was pulled for freshman Aerin Frankel.

The Huskies came out swinging in the second period, as Sullivan notched her second goal in as many games on a power play. Soon after, Northeastern found themselves back on the advantage, and what looked like a goal from junior Kasidy Anderson was called back for goaltender interference.

After that goal was waved off, Herrington scored her second of the game to bring the score back to 3-3. Anderson would give Northeastern the lead late in the second with a snipe from the faceoff dot.

Freshman Daryl Watts scored her 30th goal of the season in her 24th game to even the score at four a piece, and the score remained knotted through the end of regulation. Katie Burt (29 saves) and the Eagles penalty kill withstood a 5-on-3 late in the third to send the game to overtime.

Just 28 seconds into the extra frame, Miano scored her fourth goal of the game to gives the Eagles their 19th win of the season.

On Friday evening, Joe King, BC coach Katie Crowley’s father, passed away unexpectedly. One cannot imagine the whirlwind of emotions coach Crowley was experiencing, but hopefully she was able to find some solace in her team’s victory.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to coach Crowley and her family.

BC improves to 13-1-2 in Hockey East play after this weekend, and Northeastern is now 8-7-1. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Conte Forum for the first round of the Beanpot.