Spring Break
Eagles fly in, hand Huskies third straight loss
Jake Goldberg
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
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The Huskies struggled with the Boston College speed for the first two periods, and were stifled time again in the neutral zone.
The Eagles also put a ton of pressure on with their fore-check which resulted in the first goal of the game of BC, after a UConn defender lost the puck which resulted on a two on one.
Alexandra Garcia, the UConn goaltender made a valiant effort to try to stop the advance with a poke check but missed and left the goal open for a score.
The second goal of the game happened when BC held UConn deep in its own zone and continued to fire shots on Garcia until one popped up in the air, landed on Garcia's shoulder and then slid down into the net.
After BC took the 2-0 lead, the Huskies picked up their pace noticeablyand were able to skate with BC for most of the second period.
The shots on net came, but there were no second chance attempts as BC's goalie Molly Schaus did a good job of deflecting the puck away to her defenders or covering it up. Schaus is on the American National team, and it showed throughout the game.
By the end of the second period, however, UConn had amassed more shots on goal then Boston College, 21-18. It looked as though it had tried to slow down the high flying attack and started countering. The speed of the game slowed a little and played in the Huskies favor.
"Half of our shots went to her glove side, and she is simply too good on that side," head coach Heather Linstad said. "I told them right after the second period to go somewhere else, but they just didn't."
UConn was able to continue to put the pressure on BC early during the third period but consistently found the back of Schaus' glove. All three periods, the Huskies had the same problem, their shots were coming from the outside, not much in front of the net. Nobody was able to stay in front of the net to pick up rebounds and they suffered for it.
"They got their noses down in front of our net and looked for the puck," Linstad said. "We didn't crash I don't know why, I just don't know."
The Eagles had a much harder go of the third period as well, with UConn stepping up the fore-check. With the pressure on BC, UConn then provided relief, by obtaining two penalties in the final six minutes of the game, which took all momentum they had away.
With 3:04 left in the game Becky Zavisza put in the third goal for the Eagles and effectively brought the game to a close. With 1:16 left Boston College threw in the last goal of the game on an open net.
It has been five periods since UConn last scored a goal and this was thirdstraight loss in a row for the Huskies.
The Huskies face Brown on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m at Freitas Ice Forum.
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