Kuhlman, Bonfe Score First Career Goals; Women's Ice Hockey Falls to BU in Weekend Finale, 4-2
Links: Box Score
BOSTON – Freshmen Jessica Kuhlman (Severna Park, Md.) and Jessica Bonfe (Woodbury, Minn.) both potted the first markers of their career, but Boston University's four-goal first period was too much to overcome, as the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team suffered a 4-2 defeat on Saturday at Walter Brown Arena.
The Basics
Score: Boston U. 4, Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (2-12-0, 1-7-0 WHEA) | Boston U. (10-6-0, 8-3-0 WHEA)
Location: Walter Brown Arena | Boston, Mass.
How It Happened
After meeting BU for the first time in school history last night, Merrimack made its first-ever trip to Walter Brown Arena to conclude the weekend series on Saturday afternoon.
BU set the tone with a four-goal outburst in the span of 15 minutes. Rebecca Russo tallied her seventh of the year just 12 seconds into the game before Samantha Sutherland buried her third while the Terriers had an extra attacker on with a delayed penalty upcoming to make it 2-0 at the 6:19 mark.
Just over a minute into that subsequent power play, Alexis Crossley's first of the year increased BU's lead to three, and Kayla Tutino rounded out the Terriers' scoring with an even-strength marker at 15:52 of the period.
Merrimack, however, would have the last say in the opening frame, as Kuhlman beat BU goaltender Erin O'Neil from the right post with only 0.3 seconds remaining in the period.
Neither side would light the lamp in the second, but Bonfe's first collegiate tally early in the third brought the Warriors to within two. That, however, was the closest the Warriors would get, as the Terriers held on from there on out to secure the weekend sweep.
Inside The Numbers
- Making her second career start, sophomore goaltender Chaislyn Burgio (Quincy, Mass.) set a new career-high with 33 saves on Saturday, including 21 from the second period onward
- Rookie forward Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ontario) distributed a team-high two assists on Saturday, while fellow freshman Paige Sorensen (Plymouth, Minn.), Baye Flanagan (Billerica, Mass.), sophomore Jillian Battista (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and junior Marie Delarbre (Fussen, Germany) all registered helpers, as well
- Merrimack posted six shots in both the second and third frame, while BU outshot the Warriors by a 37-15 margin in total
- Merrimack finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while BU converted 1-of-2 of its man advantages
Up Next
After Thanksgiving, Merrimack will head to New Haven next weekend to participate in the Nutmeg Classic hosted by Yale. The Warriors will face the host Bulldogs on Friday (Nov. 27) night before facing a to-be-determined opponent the following afternoon.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
