BU women's hockey defeats Vermont 2-1 behind strong showing from Callie Shanahan

Yesterday at 08:04 PM

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Boston University women's hockey team took down Vermont 2-1 on the road Friday night.

Here are two takeaways from the No. 13 Terriers' (13-5-1, 11-2-1 Hockey East) win at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

BU was outplayed early, but responded.

After junior forward Lilli Welcke's third goal of the season gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead just 1:01 into the game, the Catamounts controlled much of the first 20 minutes.

BU struggled to maintain any possession. Vermont was quicker to pucks after falling behind, forcing the Terriers into mistakes, including numerous icings.

The visitors found some life late in the opening frame, courtesy of strong forechecks from graduate forward Lindsay Bochna and junior forward Sydney Healey, but nothing came to be. Despite being outshot 9-5, BU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

BU was much better the rest of the way. It came out hot in the second period, sustaining offensive zone time right away. The Terriers outshot Vermont 13-8 in the middle frame, ringing a couple posts along the way.

The third period was the best of the day for BU. Vermont struggled to muster up any offense for much of the final 20 minutes and didn't record a shot on goal in the first five-plus minutes.

While the Terriers were unable to score in the third, they set up in the offensive zone the best they had all day. The looks were there, but BU was just unable to capitalize.

Callie Shanahan was excellent.

The senior netminder was stellar in the win for BU, stopping BLANK shots she faced.  Shanahan has seemingly found a groove again after the semester break, which is a welcome sign for the Terriers.

Shanahan kept BU in the game during the first period, making several high-quality saves. The most impressive of the day came at 15:03 of the first. A bouncing puck found a Catamount all alone in front of the net, and Shanahan showed her quick reflexes, flashing her glove to make the save.

How it happened:

Lilli Welcke opened the scoring just 1:01 into the game. Amidst a Vermont line change, Welcke rushed the puck up the ice and buried her third goal of the season with her backhand. It was her third goal of the season and since Oct. 18.

BU extended its lead on the penalty kill at 13:17. Junior forward Luisa Welcke finished a two-on-one with a one-timer off a feed from graduate captain Tamara Giaquinto. It's her fourth goal of the season and first since Nov. 8. It was the first time the Welcke sisters, who were moved off the same line late in the fall semester, scored in the same game this season.

Vermont got on the board at 16:20 of the third. From the slot, graduate forward Grace Nelles fired a shot off the right post and in to make it a 2-1 game.

This story will be updated.